Hazlewood reflects on injuries as he faces prospect of missing out on home Test

Injuries have restricted to Josh Hazlewood to just a handful of Tests in recent years, and it’s why the big quick wants to be picked this week now that he’s fully fit.

Josh Hazlewood says he’d be “disappointed” to miss out on playing in the SCG Test as the veteran quick looks to lock down his spot in the side following a frustrating 24 months.

While his form with the white ball has improved greatly in recent years, Hazlewood has hardly been seen in Test cricket, managing just two matches in 2022 and a further three the year before.

Josh Hazlewood is desperate to play in his home Test after a frustrating few months. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

Side strains in each of the past two years have derailed his home summers, but he’s ready to rip into a struggling South African batting lineup in what would be his first match since the Perth Test against the West Indies.

Hazlewood says he’s fully fit after the latest setback but there’s no guarantee he’ll be picked for his home Test, with speedster Lance Morris likely to make his debut, while selectors are also contemplating picking two spinners on what should be a dry deck.

“I definitely want to be out there,” he said.

“I think when anyone gets dropped when they're fully fit, it’s a testament to how good the quicks are at the moment.

“But I guess that's what happens when you miss out with injury, you give other people an opportunity and they take it. I think that’s how I got my first go with Ryan Harris sitting out and Peter Siddle injured.

“You get your opportunity, then you put pressure on the older guys. I feel like that just comes and goes as your career goes along.

“I’d be definitely disappointed if I missed out.”

Selectors face plenty of headaches with Scott Boland performing well. Picture: Jason McCawley / Getty Images

With Mitchell Starc out injured, selectors have plenty of options for the Sydney Test, with only Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon locked in.

Hazlewood and Morris are both in contention, while Scott Boland has done nothing wrong in the series and has shown he can take wickets with his stump to stump line.

But it would be a big call leaving Hazlewood out given he’s taken 217 Test wickets and has been one of Australia’s most consistent performers since he made his debut.

“I still feel like it’s in place, but it’s always good to have pressure,” he replied when asked if there’s a pecking order in the Australian pace attack.

“Every time Scotty's played, he’s done remarkably well.

“The Ashes coming up is probably a big one that he’s looking at and he’s sort of a similar bowler to myself and Pat. We potentially could play there all together on a wicket that might seam and swing. It’s great to have options.

“We’re all a little bit different. I’m probably the tallest bowler and probably get the most bounce, whereas Scotty’s more of a skidder and he’s always at the stumps, then there’s Lance with his pace.

“Everyone's a little bit different and I guess it’s up to the selectors as to what’s going to work best on a wicket like this.”

Hazlewood bowled in the nets before the Boxing Day Test but ruled himself out of contention. Picture: Kelly Defina / Getty Images

The fact Hazlewood has missed out on so much red ball cricket over the past few years has been great for touring teams, but hugely disappointing for a man at the peak of his powers.

“It’s frustrating, definitely. I don’t feel like I’ve been injured (that long),” he said.

“It just happens to be at the wrong time of the year after the first Test. The Test matches are so close now that you miss a couple in a row. It’s tough but the rest of the 24 months I’ve been fit and firing.

“It's frustrating when you think about it like that. You get this little side strain at the end of this Test (the last of the summer) then it’s a different thing. The timing hasn’t been great.”

Hazlewood said his latest injury was slightly different to his previous setback and that medical staff were investigating to see if there was any connection.

“We probably have to dig a little bit deeper when we have a bit more time,” he said.

“There‘s obviously a lot been going on in the last few weeks and they (the medical team) are focusing on the guys on the field a lot.

“Behind the scenes, there’s definitely chats with whether it’s Cricket NSW medical staff or Cricket Australia as to if there’s a link here or there or what it could be. I think it’s just part of fast-bowling.

“It’s probably a strength issue at times and then it’s a workload issue at times. They go together.”