Josh Hazlewood came home from the IPL 2023 with soreness in his side, but he has been given the all-clear and is now ready for the World Test Championship final against India and the Ashes that come after.
Since the tests didn’t show any damage, Hazlewood has been bowling again before the Australian team leaves for the UK.
“Josh Hazlewood went home from the IPL last weekend because his side hurt a little after his most recent match,” a CA representative said.
“After a short break to be safe, Hazlewood started bowling hard again last week. He will continue to increase the amount of time he spends bowling in preparation for the WTC and Ashes series. Hazlewood is healthy and ready to play in the WTC and Ashes Series.
The INR 7.75 Crore player who joined RCB missed the first few games of the season because he was still healing from Achilles tendinitis, which he got in the SCG Test against South Africa earlier this year. Hazlewood missed the first two Tests of the tour of India because of this illness. He worked hard to get better so he could play in the second half of this important series. But it didn’t work out, and he didn’t play a single game on the tour.
Hazlewood then missed RCB’s first few games this season before he joined the team. Even though he was now part of the team, he was still not well enough to play for the team. He practiced for games at the end of April, and on May 1, against Lucknow Super Giants, he played his first game of the season. He played two more road games on May 6 and 9, against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, but hasn’t played since.
Then, RCB team head Mike Hesson officially told him that he wouldn’t be able to play in the team’s last league game, which was a must-win home game against the holders and top team in the table, Gujarat Titans.
Australia has chosen a 17-person team to go to the UK, but that number will be cut to 15 before the team leaves on May 28 for the WTC final, which starts on June 7. After the last match, there will be a five-match Ashes series.
