Josh Hazlewood is being cautious with his return to the playing field
Injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood won’t be ready to play in Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in late March.
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Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to play any cricket before the World Cup as he continues to take a cautious approach with his latest back injury.
Hazlewood withdrew from the Test series against Sri Lanka after feeling back soreness during the fourth Test against India at the SCG in early January.
Scans revealed the early stages of a stress fracture and Hazlewood immediately began a rehabilitation program he has become all too familiar with.
The big quick said he was progressing as hoped, but won’t be ready to play in Australia’s one-day series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in late March. He’s already missing the tour to India later this month.
A member of the 2015 World Cup winning team, Hazlewood has only played six of Australia’s past 20 one-day internationals.
But’s he’s a considered a crucial part of the team looking for back-to-back titles in England later this year.
More scans on Friday will determine when Hazlewood can return to bowling.
But the 28-year-old, who has 72 wickets in his 42 ODIS, was confident if he could be ready for Australia’s World Cup warm-up games in May, he’d be ready for the tournament opener against Afghanistan on June 1.
“Everything feels fine, training is coming along nicely, progressing every week. I think we’ll just work back from the World Cup actually, and make sure everything is right for that,” Hazlewood said on Thursday as the Australian Cricketers’ Association and Cricket Australia announced $30 million of funding to grassroots cricket.
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“I haven’t played too much one day cricket in the past 12 to 18 months, which has been a bit frustrating and is a bit of a shame.
“But we have three (warm-up) games in Brisbane in May against New Zealand, and maybe three when we get over to England. That’s six one-day games and quite enough to be ready I think.”
Hazlewood said he was becoming well versed in back stress fractures and how to handle them.
He was thankful his latest one was discovered early, given the massive winter in England with the Ashes following the World Cup, so he could manage his recovery to be ready.
“I wasn’t in too much pain. But getting scans after Sydney gave us enough time that if there was something wrong I could get right for the winter,” he said.
“If the winter wasn’t as big as it is I might have kept pushing on to play some more Tests. We know with bones you need that rest to get it right, and it’s better to do it now. “
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