Finch Sees Hazlewood's Injury as Opportunity for Australia to Select Test Matches Wisely
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New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) Former captain Aaron Finch has indicated that Josh Hazlewood’s recent calf injury, which cut short his involvement in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, presents Australia with a chance to selectively determine the Test matches he participates in moving forward.
After sitting out the day-night Test in Adelaide due to a side strain, Hazlewood made his comeback in the third Test at Gabba, Brisbane. However, he suffered a calf strain just before the fourth day’s play, bowling only a single over before undergoing scans that confirmed his injury would end his series.
“With Hazlewood getting injured more frequently, that raises a significant concern. There’s an opportunity to potentially cherry pick the matches he plays in the future,” Finch remarked during an episode of ESPN's Around The Wicket.
“It’s widely recognized that he is among the top three bowlers in Australia, or top four if you include Nathan Lyon, but it’s crucial to have him available… (So, Australia might need to consider) selecting the optimal conditions for Josh Hazlewood to make an impact and rotating the others around that,” Finch added.
As Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc all enter their 30s, former player Callum Ferguson believes Australia must reassess their strategies concerning fast bowlers to extend the Test careers of this trio.
“The next few years are vital for the Australian cricket team regarding the fast-bowling unit because they are no longer young. Even the upcoming bowlers like Scott Boland and Michael Neser, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, are not the youngest either. Therefore, we need to contemplate the best approach to maximize their effectiveness and how to extend their careers,” Ferguson stated.
“We don’t want them to play less cricket; we want them to participate more. I believe a rotation policy could be the most effective way forward because those five or six pace bowlers are exceptionally talented and capable, so let’s aim to extend their careers, and rotation might be the best solution,” he concluded.
