Australia vs New Zealand: Josh Hazlewood injury updates, Boxing Day test squad news
The image of a distraught Josh Hazlewood limping from the field in Perth should’ve send shockwaves through the Australian selectors – and not just because they’d lost one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
There’s just one piece of the puzzle left to make Australia a world class, all-condition cricket side and it was spotlighted when Josh Hazlewood walked off Optus Stadium in pain last night.
Australia have a suddenly strong top order, a wonderful pace attack and an exceptional spin bowler but until it finds a pace bowling all-rounder it won’t be quite at peace with itself.
Matthew Wade stepped into the breach last night but for all his zest and occasional dangerous outswing, a more permanent option is needed.
Stream the Australia v New Zealand Domain Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly>
As far ahead as Australia was of New Zealand in the game, the exit of Hazlewood after he grabbed his left hamstring opened a door for New Zealand to try and scramble back in to the game in a very New Zealand sort of way over the next few days.
They may not be the prettiest side in cricket but the thought of trying to wear down an attack short of a bowler under an unforgiving sun is one that is very much in-keeping with their scrap-til-we-drop mentality.
With Australia having no pace bowling all-rounder the pressure on the rampaging Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon was suddenly significant and Marnus Labuschagne’s part-time leg spin was expected to be called in as well.
Australia is monitoring the former of boom young Cameron Green, the recently injured Mitchell Marsh and the in-form Moises Henriques but the search for the right all-rounder seems eternal.
Come back Watto … all is forgiven!
The Kiwis have been under heavy pressure since losing the toss.
Say what you like about world rankings, batting averages, clever planning and underrated players.
The bottom line is that New Zealand have beaten Australia once in their last 28 Test encounters stretching across back to 26 years to Glenn McGrath’s first Test at the WACA in 1993.
New Zealand cricket fans arrived in Australia swearing that the days of the “big brother, little brother’’ syndrome were gone but you can’t say that until they change in the only place that really matters … the scorebook.
The world rankings list which has New Zealand two and Australia five means nothing.
When things run against you in Australia it tends to be a torrent rather than a trickle.
The first day and half of the Perth Test confirmed everything we thought about New Zealand was true.
That they are a clever, united team who field and plan well. That they can bowl to a plan, not simply for a few overs but for an hour or two.
That they will never kill you with a knock out punch but are more likely to apply a choker hold until you turn blue in the face with steady, sturdy proud professionals such as Neil Wagner and Tim Southee.
But that’s when conditions suit them, like they do at home.
MORE CRICKET NEWS
REVEALED: The draining schedule which left Maxi ‘cooked’
EXCLUSIVE: Cricket claims big win over AFL in SCG drop-in saga
HARSH: Watto to lead push for prankster ban reduction
But when on the road on unforgiving Australian decks, as willingly as they fight, they may be short of a killer punch and a decent spinner.
Australia don’t know how spoiled they are to have Lyon, a bankable all-condition performer who somehow has a way of taking a respectable three wicket haul when everything in the game seems to be running against him.
The big tip about the Kiwi team was that spinner Mitchell Santner would end up with a bowling average bigger than Optus Stadium and he’s well on the way after taking 0-111 off 33 overs in Australia’s first innings, proving he could neither contain nor penetrate.
Santner joins the long like of overseas finger spinners, stretching all the way back to the great Jim Laker, who found Australian conditions simply brutal.
Originally published as Australia vs New Zealand: Josh Hazlewood injury updates, Boxing Day test squad news
Quick’s big appeal for India series
Five Test matches is a big workload for Australia’s frontline fast bowlers and a regular back-up made a massive opening Sheffield Shield impression.
Aussie star’s injury causes huge headache
Australian selectors face a major dilemma ahead of the series against India with a star all-rounder being hampered by injury.