Hazlewood steps up in place of injured Starc
perth — With pace spearhead Mitchell Starc labouring with injury, Josh Hazlewood stepped up to lead Australia’s attack with aplomb as the hosts thrashed England at the WACA on Monday to reclaim the Ashes with two Tests to spare.
Hazlewood bowled superbly to finish with 5-48 in England’s second innings as the visitors crashed to an innings and 41-run defeat before tea on day five of the third Ashes Test at the WACA.
Australia have often relied on Starc to set the tone with fierce pace and swing, but with the leftarmer carrying a heel problem, it was Hazlewood’s metronomic line and length that proved the difference on Monday.
Having dismissed England’s openers for a combined 17 runs on day four, Hazlewood required just one delivery to make the first breakthrough of the morning.
A good length ball stayed low and crashed into wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow’s stumps to end the prospect of another big partnership with Dawid Malan, after the pair’s 237-run stand in the first innings.
He later had Malan caught behind for 54 after softening up the middle order batsman with a breathtaking assault of shortpitched bowling. Malan’s wicket exposed England’s tail and the tall seamer then snared his fifth victim of the innings by having Craig Overton caught at gully for 12.
He finished the match with a haul of eight wickets for 140 runs.
“I thought Josh Hazlewood was magnificent today ... He deserved five wickets and hit really good areas,” Australia captain Steve Smith said after the final wicket fell.
Hazlewood has already proved a match-winner in the series, having broken England’s resistance in the second Test in Adelaide by removing Joe Root and Chris Woakes in quick succession on the final day. — Reuters