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No Ashes tune-up, no worries for Australia’s Josh Hazlewood

Rob ForsaithAAP
Josh Hazlewood (r) is happy to go straight into the Ashes series from the T20 World Cup in the UAE.
Camera IconJosh Hazlewood (r) is happy to go straight into the Ashes series from the T20 World Cup in the UAE. Credit: AAP

Australia’s multi-format stars have embraced a remarkably tight Ashes turnaround, with Josh Hazlewood content for the Gabba opener to be his first red-ball match in almost eight months.

Hazlewood and fellow Test quicks Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc will have little time to rest and reset for the five-Test series against England, especially if they progress deep into the Twenty20 World Cup.

The T20 World Cup final is on November 15 (AEDT), while the Ashes begin in Brisbane on December 8.

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Cricket Australia (CA) is yet to announce warm-up fixtures for both sides involved in the showpiece series, with their plans to be guided by what is allowed under Queensland’s quarantine concessions.

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Australia arranged an intra-squad selection shootout in England as a prelude to their retention of the urn in 2019, and there could potentially be a repeat in south-east Queensland.

Tim Paine’s side haven’t played a Test since losing to India at the Gabba in January, while Hazlewood hasn’t played a first-class game since the Sheffield Shield final in April.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood bowls during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between South Africa and Australia.
Camera IconAustralia's Josh Hazlewood bowls during the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match between South Africa and Australia. Credit: Kamran Jebreili/AP

But Hazlewood, who helped deliver a victory over South Africa in Australia’s T20 World Cup opener, says switching back to red-ball mode at training would be viable.

“I don’t feel like I need a match of any sort,” he said from the UAE.

“It’s more the miles in the legs.

“One or two big days of training, where we might bowl 14 or 16 overs in a day with some fielding.

“If we get that under our belts then I’m fine.”

Sydney-based spinner Nathan Lyon is set to start his Shield season this week then link up with the World Cup squad when they arrive on the Gold Coast, reuniting Australia’s first-choice Test attack.

England will have a bevy of players on deck, with their ‘A’ squad to shadow a 17-man Ashes squad.

Hazlewood insisted the T20 World Cup could help improve his red-ball bowling.

 Josh Hazlewood.
Camera Icon Josh Hazlewood. Credit: DAVID GRAY/AAPIMAGE

“In all the formats I tend to bowl pretty similarly, except obviously the back end of T20s,” he said.

“There’s certainly times within Test matches where your T20 bowling comes into play.

“The more T20 you play, the more confident you’re going to get in those change-ups and putting them into practice.

“On day five and the wicket is still good, you have to use your own tricks.”

Ben Stokes’ six-laden rampage at Headingley, where the allrounder finished 135 not out after hauling in a target of 359, is one example.

“There’s certain things that I’ve thought about trying again if I was in that situation,” Hazlewood said.

Australia's Josh Hazlewood, left, is congratulated by teammate's Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch.
Camera IconAustralia's Josh Hazlewood, left, is congratulated by teammate's Mitchell Marsh and Aaron Finch. Credit: Kamran Jebreili/AP

The right-armer echoed Lyon’s sentiment regarding Stokes, who was left out of England’s touring party while recovering from a finger injury and focusing on his mental health.

There is widespread speculation Stokes could be a late addition to England’s squad.

“You want their best team here. I’m happy if he comes out,” Hazlewood said.

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