Captain option unclear
Hazelwood wants job
JOSH Hazlewood believes he is in the box seat to continue to deputise for Pat Cummins if the captain misses further matches before and during next year’s ODI World Cup.
Selectors are yet to learn whether David Warner will become another captaincy option as Cricket Australia continues to drag its feet on when the future of his lifetime leadership ban will be decided at an independent hearing.
But as it stands Hazlewood would appear to be ahead of Steve Smith and Alex Carey as next captain in line should Cummins be unavailable. Selectors, however, have said the team behind Cummins would be a leadership group rather than a nominated No.2.
“I think at this stage, probably yes,” Hazlewood said when asked if he was now the first choice fill-in captain.
“It’s hard to say though. I’m a fast bowler as well and I might be missing here and there as well.
“We’ve obviously got Smithy, who was vice-captain tonight, and down the chain there’s another couple in the leadership group. So there’s plenty of options there and even out in the middle there was a number of senior players I can talk to and get their opinions and it feels like as a team we’re all on the one page moving in the one direction.”
The decision to go with Hazlewood over Smith or Carey shocked most, but not the man himself. “I think with the white ball stuff, I’ve been in and around the strategy meetings and the leadership groups for a number of years now and I guess with Patty sitting out and having a rest then it was a good opportunity to get a game under my belt and obviously if Patty plays the next game then pass it back,” Hazlewood said.
Hazlewood has not captained since he was a schoolboy, but did not look out of place, taking two wickets as he and bowlers Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa destroyed England by 72 runs to claim the ODI series 2-0 in Sydney.
Highly regarded and possessing the most even temperament of almost any cricketer, Hazlewood said he was honoured and satisfied by his ascension to be Australia’s 28th ODI captain. “It was pretty exciting first of all I think. And a little bit nerve wracking. But I think once you got into a stride on the field it was good fun,” he said.
The bizarre thing is Hazlewood is no guarantee to be in Australia’s best XI at the World Cup. Not because of his ability – he is the No.2 ranked bowler in ODI cricket – but because Cummins is captain and there may only be room for two fast bowlers in India.
Hazlewood maintains he, Cummins and Mitchell Starc could all play in the World Cup. “It’s good to play two spin, two quicks and some allrounders the first couple of games (here against England) and see how that balance works and then we’ll see what happens next game.”