‘Win to relax guys’

Australia’s victory over South Africa in a One-Day International on Friday helped lift the pressure following a poor run of results for a side coming to terms with plenty of off-field distractions, according to vice-captain Josh Hazlewood.

Cricket in Australia has been mired in controversy since the side were embroiled in a ball-tampering scandal in South Africa in March, with a damning report into the sport’s administration leading to a slew of resignations and sackings.

The team had also not won a limited-overs match since January, which may have been one of the reasons behind a crowd of fewer than 18,000 turning up at the vast Adelaide Oval to watch them set up a series decider in Hobart today.

The seven-run win, however, could be the catalyst for the team as they looked ahead to India’s visit Down Under later in the Australian summer, Hazlewood told reporters in Adelaide yesterday.

“It will probably relax the guys a little bit, if anything,” the fast bowler said.