Josh Hazlewood has indicated that his return to Sheffield Shield cricket with New South Wales will be essential for his preparations ahead of the Ashes series. This commitment may lead to him missing some international matches, as he is expected to sit out at least two T20 internationals against India scheduled for later this month to compete in NSW’s Shield match against Victoria starting November 10.
Hazlewood, along with fellow pacer Mitchell Starc, was named in Australia’s squad for the three-match ODI series against India beginning October 19 in Perth. Despite Starc having already opted out of T20Is, Hazlewood is still listed for the first two of five T20s against India. However, he acknowledged that he may withdraw from those matches in favor of red-ball cricket to optimize his preparation for the Ashes opener on November 21 in Perth.
“This year I’m going to miss a couple of T20s to do that. I certainly don’t like missing games for Australia, but getting the best preparation for the Ashes is what ultimately matters. You can’t have everything, and that’s the trade-off at the moment,” Hazlewood said during a Cricket Australia promotional event.
Hazlewood’s decision aligns with Cricket Australia’s broader strategy of managing player workloads ahead of the marquee Ashes series. Nathan Lyon is slated to feature in three of the first four Shield matches, while Steve Smith is expected to participate in the third round. Pat Cummins will miss the white-ball matches against India as he continues his recovery from a back injury.
In addition to focusing on the Ashes, Hazlewood noted that the upcoming ODIs against India will still serve as valuable match preparation. The 34-year-old expressed his aspirations to compete in the T20 World Cup in 2026 and the ODI World Cup in 2027, which motivates him to participate in as many series as possible.
“That’s why I put my hand up for as many tours as I can. Even if I play only two out of three on a tour, it keeps me in touch with those formats. My game doesn’t change much; I have been around long enough to adapt to each format,” Hazlewood remarked.
Despite his age and recent injury concerns, Hazlewood is optimistic about playing in all five Tests of the Ashes series. He cites favorable gaps in the schedule as an opportunity for fast bowlers to recuperate between matches.
