‘Oz bowlers have to step up in ODIs’
MUMBAI: Josh Hazlewood has claimed Australian fast bowlers, who dominated throughout the Ashes 2017-18 handing their team a 4-0 win, have not transitioned well enough when it comes to limited overs cricket. Hazlewood, who is Australia’s best-ranked bowler in Tests and 50-over format, has called for training sessions with the white ball during Tests which could help Australia bridge the gap with other teams. The reigning world champions are currently going through a slump — having won only one out of their last 10 ODIs — and are contemplating revamp ahead of
› You have to outline training sessions for the white ball stuff and work on your variations even while you’re playing on a Test tour.
J HAZLEWOOD, On possible remedy
the next year’s World Cup.
“We haven’t quite transitioned from Test cricket to one-day cricket as well as we could have,” Hazlewood was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“England have two sets of bowlers in some regard, with only Woakes and Ali backing up (from the Magellan Ashes Test series) so they’re really one-day specialists I guess you could say and they’ve showed us how to play. I think you still want your best bowlers playing … but you do need to work on skills from time to time,” he said.
“Maybe it’s a session here or there around Test cricket, you work on those skills with the white ball. We can probably learn and do things a bit differently. I guess you have to outline some training sessions for the white ball stuff and work on your variations even while you’re playing on a Test tour,” he added.
Australia have lost each of the first three ODIs against England in their ongoing five-match ODI series at home. In their previous ODI assignment, Australia had managed only one win in a fivematch series in India.
On his part, Hazlewood is looking to improve his limited-overs credentials, especially in T20 format. Having made his last appearance in the Big Bash League in 2014, he has put his name in the upcoming auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018 to be held this weekend.
With Australia set to host the next World T20 tournament in 2020, Hazlewood is eyeing a berth in the national side. “You want to play for Australia in every format, so hopefully I get a crack at playing some T20 cricket before then and put my case forward.”