Ashes 2019: Josh Hazlewood pushing for Aussie recall after impressing in tour match against Worcestershire

Josh Hazlewood hopes his three-wicket tour match haul will be enough to land him in the Lord’s Ashes Test. But another failure has put Cameron Bancroft further under the microscope.

Josh Hazlewood is the centre of attention after impressing in the tour match.

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Fifteen overs and more importantly three wickets against Worcestershire was “enough” for Aussie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood to declare he’s Ashes ready should he be needed in the second Test.

Hazlewood, who lost an 11th hour battle with veteran Peter Siddle for a spot in the first Test at Edgbaston, was easily the pick of the Aussie bowlers in the tour match which was unlikely to be a shoot-out for a spot at Lord’s.

Most expect only a surprising wicket in the second Test could prompt a change from the victorious first Test line-up given the eight day break between games and the fact all the bowlers from that match weren’t required in Worcester.

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Josh Hazlewood is the centre of attention after impressing in the tour match.

A wagging local tail, with 136-runs put on by for final two wickets from the County team, was something of a concern for the tourists.

But Hazlewood said his return of 3-34 was as good as he’s bowled since he got to England and if Australian selectors wanted to change something for the second test, he was ready.

“I think coming back from a pretty serious back injury, back to back stress fractures, it can take some time to get back in to the swing of things. I feel better and better with each bowl,” Hazlewood said.

“I felt really, really good, and if I keep improving and keep putting my hand up every chance, that’s all I can do.

“I think I got enough out of this one innings. I’m bowling exactly how I want it, swinging when I want it. I’m feeling really comfortable with where I am at the moment.”

Mitch Starc took 2-56 but couldn’t clean up the Worcestershire tail, with the home team declaring nine wickets down to give the Australians another bat.

Mitchell Starc proved a handful for the Worcestershire batsmen.

Opener Marcus Harris, with an unbeaten effort of 62, kept the pressure on Cameron Bancroft who was out for an unconvincing innings of just seven, littered with plays and misses after his twin Edgbaston failures.

Harris conceded the batsmen may not get rotated as much as the bowlers during the five Test Ashes series but said he was “ready to go” if needed.

Hazlewood said he would ‘love an opportunity’ to play at Lord’s.

“I’ve only played one Test at Lord’s but I thought I got used to the slope pretty quickly and felt pretty comfortable there,” Hazlewood said.

“It’s pretty stiff competition at the moment.

“Sidds has obviously been playing a lot of (county) cricket and the other two guys (Pattinson and Pat Cummins) just pick themselves.”

Cameron Bancroft was knocked over for 7 in Australia’s second innings.

Alex Milton top-scored for Worcestershire with 74, eventually falling when Starc claimed a low catch in the deep to hand Marnus Labuschagne a second wicket. Starc finished with figures of 2-56 from 15.5 overs.

“The pace is still there. He’s a genuine wicket-taker all the time and always poses a threat,” Hazlewood said.

Starc struck the helmet of No.10 batsman Charlie Morris and had a stump cartwheeling when Morris was on 12.

But there was no celebration, Starc trudged back to his mark after overstepping. Morris went on to score a career-best 53 not out, sharing a 88-run stand with Milton.

Originally published as Ashes 2019: Josh Hazlewood pushing for Aussie recall after impressing in tour match against Worcestershire