Josh Hazlewood to miss rest of India T20I series to shift focus on Ashes preparation

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood will not play the remaining T20I matches against India as he returns home to prepare for the upcoming Ashes series starting on November 21 in Perth. The right-arm pacer said he wants to focus on red-ball practice and build rhythm for the upcoming Test season.

“Heading home tomorrow. I’ll have a week to prepare for the Shield game against Victoria, then we head to Perth for the first Test. It’s important to get that red ball rhythm in, bowl consecutive overs, spend big days in the field – tick that off before the Test season starts,” Hazlewood said after the second T20I in Melbourne.

Hazlewood was the star for Australia in the second T20I on Friday, taking 3 wickets for just 13 runs in four overs. He dismissed Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma in quick time, leaving India struggling in the powerplay. His spell proved crucial in Australia’s 4-wicket win, giving them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series after the first game in Canberra was washed out.

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India and Australia will now move to Hobart for the third T20I on November 2 before playing the final two games at the Gold Coast and Brisbane on November 6 and 8, respectively. Australia will then host England for the five-match Test series, with the opening game scheduled to take place from November 21 to 25.

Hazlewood says his body feels as good as it ever has

Hazlewood had missed two Tests during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year because of an injury, but is now looking in prime form for the Ashes. He performed exceptionally well throughout the ODI series against India and also in the second T20I on Friday.

Talking about his fitness after the game, Hazlewood said that he feels in great shape ahead of the long home season and is confident about maintaining his form and workload through the summer.

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“I think you learn as you go. (Jimmy) Anderson and (Stuart) Broad played for a long time (and) I’m not saying I’m going to be around that long, but the body feels as good as it ever has. Whenever I’m up and going, and I know probably gym programs and things are more tailor made to the individual now and more specific, so for longevity, it’s always improving. It’s not going to get worse. So all the little things add up, and hopefully we keep ticking those off through the summer and stay on the Park,” he added.