Josh on ice until World Cup bid
CRICKET AUSTRALIAN fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to play any cricket before the World Cup as he continues to take a cautious approach with his latest back injury.
Hazlewood withdrew from the Test series against Sri Lanka after feeling back soreness during the Fourth Test against India at the SCG in early January.
Scans revealed the early stages of a stress fracture and Hazlewood immediately began a rehabilitation program he has become all too familiar with.
The big quick said he was progressing as hoped, but won’t be ready to play in Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in late March. He’s already missing the tour to India later this month.
A member of the 2015 World Cup winning team, Hazlewood has only played six of Australia’s past 20 one-day internationals.
But’s he’s a considered a crucial part of the team looking for back-to-back titles in England later this year.
More scans on Friday will determine when Hazlewood can return to bowling.
But the 28-year-old, who has 72 wickets in his 42 ODIS, was confident if he could be ready for Australia’s World Cup warm-up games in May, he’d be ready for the tournament opener against Afghanistan on June 1.
“Everything feels fine, training is coming along nicely, progressing every week. I think we’ll just work back from the World Cup actually, and make sure everything is right for that,” Hazlewood said yesterday as the Australian Crickcan REHAB PLAN: Josh Hazlewood. eters’ Association and Cricket Australia announced $30 million of funding to grassroots cricket.
“I haven’t played too much one day cricket in the past 12 to 18 months, which has been a bit frustrating and is a bit of a shame.
“But we have three (warmup) games in Brisbane in May against New Zealand, and maybe three when we get over to England. That’s six one-day games and quite enough to be ready I think.”
Hazlewood said he was becoming well versed in back stress fractures and how to handle them.
He was thankful his latest one was discovered early, given the massive winter in England with the Ashes following the World Cup, so he could manage his recovery to be ready.
“I wasn’t in too much pain. But getting scans after Sydney gave us enough time that if there was something wrong I could get right for the winter,” he said.
“If the winter wasn’t as big as it is I might have kept pushing on to play some more Tests. We know with bones you need that rest to get it right, and it’s better to do it now.”
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CRICKET GAZING out his window yesterday afternoon, Cricket Far North president Peter Huey was “feeling good”.
The sun’s crisp, yellow rays shining through the glass had filled him with confidence that maybe – just maybe – Far North cricketers would finally get to roll the arm over this weekend.
He said conditions were looking very welcoming, following a soggy start to 2019.
“It’s the best I’ve felt on a Thursday afternoon for a while, that’s for sure,” Huey said.
“Hopefully all the rain will hold off for a bit now and we get back out there and play some cricket.”
He said Far North wickets got through last week’s downpour in good condition and were ready for the weekend’s play.
“As long as they stay covered and the weather stays STEWART McLEAN fine, we will be playing on Saturday,” said Huey.
“I think the players are getting a bit antsy. They really want to get out there.”
Since Round 14 of the 2018-19 Cricket Far North season on December 1, only 11 of a scheduled 28 first-grade games have gone ahead.
In the match of the round, Norths will be gunning to snatch top spot from Mulgrave in their top of the table clash at Griffiths Park tomorrow.
Mulgrave’s hopes will be buoyed by the return of Marcus McGregor-Cassady, who comes back to the local competition after captaining South Australia at the National Indigenous Cricket Championships in Alice Springs.