Cricket World Cup 2015: Josh Hazlewood says England yet to work out how to beat Australia
EOIN Morgan’s attempts to bring Mitchell Johnson down to size have failed to fool anyone, with Australia adamant England are clueless on how to beat them.
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EOIN Morgan’s feeble attempts to bring Mitchell Johnson down to size have failed to fool anyone, with Australia adamant England are clueless on how to beat them just a week-and-a-half out from the World Cup opener.
Australia’s other fast bowling enforcer Josh Hazlewood pointed to Morgan’s stumps being skittled by Johnson in the tri-series final as the clearest illustration that England are sitting ducks for the tournament kick-off on February 14.
Walking out to bat after watching his opener Moeen Ali being removed by an unplayable Johnson Jaffa, Morgan was too rattled to even offer a shot and was gone first ball.
As they say, take off the head and the body will fall, and Australia are confident any progress England players had made since last summer’s Ashes has now been undone again.
Removing Alastair Cook as captain has done nothing to turn things around, in fact Morgan’s lack of experience may have set the old enemy back even further.
According to Hazlewood, England appear out of ideas and Australia have a hold on them.
“I think so. I don’t think they know quite how to beat us yet, especially in Australia,” said Hazlewood.
“We’ve obviously proved that over the past few years and especially this series again, beating them a few times.
“They’ll be scratching their head of how to get on top of us in this first game.
“It looked (like we had their number) the other day.
“Knocking over the captain for a golden duck put us well on the way for a win.”
Morgan tried to dismiss the threat of Johnson, arguing “he didn’t even swing it.”
But given Johnson ripped the heart out of the top order with three quick wickets, Hazlewood says heaven help England if the big left-armer does manage to move one.
“We’re happy for him to keep bowling like that, even if he isn’t a danger,” joked Hazlewood.
“Just those bursts where he gets three or four quick wickets, breaks the game.”
Opposition teams might rank Johnson and Mitchell Starc as Australia’s two biggest strike-weapons, but it’s Hazlewood who they’ll have to contend with opening the bowling.
Hazlewood will take the new ball not only to break up the left-armers, but because he’s averaged 22.4 in a scintillating start to his ODI career.
It’s now locked in that Johnson, Starc and Hazlewood will be Australia’s first-choice attack for the Cup — with youngster Pat Cummins to wait in the wings.
Hazlewood is looking forward the responsibility of taking the new rock, predicting the MCG wicket will be faster and bouncier than it was for this summer’s benign Test draw against India
“There’s obviously still great competition for fast bowling spots, you’re always playing for your spot when you’re playing for Australia,” he said.
“But I’m quite confident I can do a job upfront for Australia with the new ball.”
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