Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke is surprised to see Josh Hazlewood playing in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 rather than preparing for the Ashes 2023. He said that Australian fans want him at his best for this Ashes series.
Josh Hazlewood making a return to cricket through IPL after an injury
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood has missed a lot of cricketing action. The right-arm fast bowler suffered an Achilles tendonitis injury during Australia’s home season and since then has been out of action. He missed the Test series against India and was on the sidelines for the first half of the tournament as he was yet to recover from injury.
Hazlewood made a return to the cricket in RCB’s latest game against LSG and bowled staggering well picking 2 wickets for just 16 runs in the spin-friendly wicket. The pacer has been named in Australia’s squad for the ICC World Test Championship Final against India and the first two Tests of the Ashes.
It’s fair to say that he’ll be extremely important for Australia in the series and will hold a vital role in their chances. But Michael Clarke feels that Hazlewood might not get more overs to bowl which will now help him to prepare for the Ashes.
“I don’t know why he’s overplaying IPL. I don’t know why he’s not over here in Australia preparing to play Test match cricket. I know they’ll have people over there, in the nets, he’ll be bowling more than what the IPL players are bowling, in preparation for Test match cricket,” Michael Clarke was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
Ashes 2023: “It’s great to see him back playing,” Michael Clarke on Josh Hazlewood
Michael Clarke further went on to say that if bowling three overs in the IPL will help him prepare for the Ashes, then it’s great to see him back. He added:
“I just don’t know if him bowling three overs, four overs right now is his best preparation for an Ashes series, after the injuries he’s had and the amount of time he’s had out of Test cricket. It’s great to see him back playing; there’s no doubt about it, but for Australian Test cricket fans, you want to see him at his best for this Ashes series.”
Ashes 2023 is just around the corner and the two biggest rivals England and Australia will be up against each other in the five-match Test series. The first match will begin from 16th June in Edgbaston, which will be followed by the second game on 28th June at Lord’s. The third game will be played on July 6th in Leeds whereas the last two games are slated to take place on July 19th and July 27th on Manchester and the Oval respectively.
