By Ian Chadband
Josh Hazlewood will take no part in the early stages of the Indian Premier League as he seeks to overcome an Achilles problem while his Royal Challengers Bangalore teammate Glenn Maxwell may miss their opening game.
As 11 other Australian players get ready for cricket’s most lucrative jamboree, with Matthew Wade expected to be the first in action for champions Gujarat Titans on Friday, Hazlewood’s absence has been flagged by Cricket Australia’s official website. Representatives for the pace spearhead said it was all part of the plan with a heavy Test workload in coming months.
Josh Hazlewood missed all four Tests against India due to an Achilles injury.Credit:AP
The Achilles strain that kept the quick out of all four Tests in India is taking time to fully recover from, with CA saying the 32-year-old will consult their medical staff before leaving Sydney to fly out to the IPL.
Hazlewood, who took 20 wickets in 12 matches for RCB during the 2022 campaign, is keen to play some part later in the tournament but with a World Test Championship final, five Ashes Tests and a World Cup to come this year, caution will be the watchword.
Allrounder Maxwell is also said to be a doubt for RCB’s opening game on Sunday as he continues to build up his strength and fitness after the broken leg he suffered in a freak accident at a friend’s birthday party.
That match on Sunday in Bengaluru should mark the eagerly-awaited debut of Mumbai Indians’ star signing Cameron Green, who will become Australia’s most expensive IPL player after being snapped up for $3.15 million amid a bidding war at December’s auction.
The tournament will begin with 35-year-old Tasmanian Wade likely to be selected for the champion Titans against a Chennai Super Kings outfit spearheaded by 41-year-old MS Dhoni in what may well be his final IPL campaign.
There will be a major Australian focus on another veteran, David Warner, who has been asked to take the reins as captain of the Delhi Capitals after Rishabh Pant was ruled out for the season while recovering from his car accident in December.
Warner and coach Ricky Ponting lead the Aussie brains trust for the Capitals, and can call on an in-form Mitch Marsh, who is fresh from his sparkling shows in the recent ODI series in India.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
