The Bendemeer Bullet, Josh Hazlewood, has had a whirlwind homecoming that included him imparting advice on a group of talented young cricketers, having his “backstory” explored by Channel 7 and Fox Sports and conceding that Australia will begin their Test series against India this summer in an uncustomary vulnerable state.
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The 27-year-old paceman, the world’s 10th-ranked Test bowler and fifth-ranked ODI bowler, also reiterated that he would be honoured to be Tim Paine’s vice-captain.
The four-Test series against Indian, who have never won a Test series in Australia, is the highlight of a summer that commences with limited-over matches against South Africa and concludes with a two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
Australia will go into the summer without their suspended stars Steve Smith and David Warner, and Hazlewood has said he and his fellow bowlers will have to “step up” in the duo’s absence.
The first Test against India starts at the Adelaide Oval on December 6.
Former Test opener Simon Katich believes that India should be favourites to end their Australian drought.
Hazlewood said: “India probably see it as their best chance in a long time to win a series in Australia.
“The batting’s probably the issue [for Australia] with two guys missing, the leading run-scorers [for Australia] for probably the last five or six years, and that has put a bit more pressure on the other top-six batters.
“But, as I said, in Australia we’re pretty confident whenever we go out and play against whatever opposition it is. I think a bit more pressure will probably fall on the bowlers to take those 20 wickets maybe a bit quicker than what we would like.
“So everyone’s gonna have to step up and fill that gap.”
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Hazlewood was ruled out of Australia’s recent ODI tour of England with a back injury, but he is hopeful of playing in the two-Test series against Pakistan in the UAE ahead of the Australian summer.
“Hopefully the injury’s all good,” he said. “We’re discussing this week … a plan, I guess, to play on that tour. We’ll find out more during the week.
“But everything feels pretty good and I've been working hard over the last couple of months to get ready, so hopefully we get to get over there.”
Speaking to members of Cricket NSW’s Central North Academy at Farrer on Saturday morning, Hazlewood touched on his move to Sydney as a young prospect and how “very good” pathways are in place to facilitate such a progression.
“So don’t think you’re missing out by being in the country,” he told them.
