Australia’s preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup have been complicated further, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood now unlikely to feature in the opening stages of the tournament as he continues his recovery from a prolonged injury lay-off.
The 35-year-old seamer has not played competitive cricket since mid-November and has endured a frustrating period marked by multiple setbacks. Hazlewood initially missed the opening part of the Ashes series against England due to a hamstring strain before suffering an Achilles problem during rehabilitation, which ultimately ruled him out of the entire contest.
At the time of Australia’s provisional T20 World Cup squad announcement in December, head coach Andrew McDonald expressed confidence that Hazlewood would be fit in time for the start of the tournament. That optimism was echoed again last month as the squad continued to take shape.
However, recent comments from Australia captain Pat Cummins suggest Hazlewood’s return is now more likely to come midway through the competition rather than at the beginning.
Cummins, who himself was ruled out of the T20 World Cup last week due to a back injury, revealed that Hazlewood is still working tirelessly to regain full fitness but may not be ready for Australia’s early matches.
“I caught up with Josh a couple of days ago and he’s working incredibly hard,” Cummins told Australia’s Nine Network. “I really feel for him because he’s had a few setbacks along the way. He’s doing absolutely everything possible, but I don’t think he’ll be available at the start. Hopefully, he can be ready around halfway through the tournament.”
Australia begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland on 11 February, with the Super 8 phase scheduled to get under way on 21 February. Hazlewood’s potential absence during the initial group stage could force the team management to carefully manage their pace resources.
As a precautionary measure, bowling all-rounder Sean Abbott has been added to the squad as a travelling reserve, providing additional depth and flexibility should injuries continue to disrupt Australia’s plans.
Meanwhile, several other key players are set to rejoin the squad ahead of the tournament. Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis and Tim David, who were unavailable for Australia’s recent tour of Pakistan, are expected to link up with the team in Sri Lanka this week. The trio are scheduled to be involved in a warm-up match against the Netherlands on Thursday, which will serve as an important hit-out before competitive action begins.
Hazlewood, however, will remain in Sydney for the time being. Selector Tony Dodemaide explained that it was in the bowler’s best interests to continue his rehabilitation at home rather than travel prematurely.
“It’s more practical and beneficial for Josh to stay in Sydney and focus on his recovery,” Dodemaide said. “That environment gives him the best chance of returning fully fit rather than rushing the process.”
Despite his current injury concerns, Hazlewood remains a vital component of Australia’s T20 setup when fit. He has taken 79 wickets in 60 T20 internationals at an economy rate of 7.47, numbers that underline his value as a reliable and experienced pace option.
One of his standout performances came in the 2021 T20 World Cup final, where he produced match-winning figures of 3-16 against New Zealand to help Australia secure their maiden title in the format.
Australia’s injury woes have not been limited to Hazlewood. Cummins himself is dealing with a “minor setback” as he recovers from a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back. The issue first surfaced during Australia’s Test tour of the West Indies in July and restricted the fast bowler to just one appearance during the Ashes.
With Cummins unavailable for the T20 World Cup, left-arm seamer Ben Dwarshuis has been drafted into the squad as his replacement. While Cummins will miss the global tournament, he remains optimistic about returning to action in time for the Indian Premier League.
The IPL is scheduled to begin on 26 March, and Cummins hopes a period of rest will ensure he is ready for what he described as “a big rest of the year”.
“We wanted to give the back a bit of a break to make sure everything is right,” Cummins explained. “It’s been a long season and there’s a lot of cricket coming up. I should be good to go in a few weeks.”
Australia’s management will be closely monitoring the fitness of their fast bowlers as the tournament progresses, particularly given the demanding schedule and conditions in India and Sri Lanka. Hazlewood’s potential mid-tournament return could provide a significant boost, especially during the knockout stages.
For now, the focus remains on ensuring players return only when fully fit, rather than risking further injury setbacks. With experienced campaigners like Hazlewood and Cummins sidelined, Australia’s depth and adaptability will be tested as they attempt to defend their T20 World Cup crown.
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