Josh Hazlewood reckons the England team will be “scratching their heads” when it comes to working out how to win the ICC Cricket World Cup opening game at the MCG on 14 February.
There will be no love lost on Valentine’s Day as the war of words between the sports oldest rivals has begun. Australia have won 13 of 15 ODIs down under in the last four years.
“We’ve been pretty good in one-day series against whoever we’ve played here,” Hazlewood said. “So to have England again in the first game, hopefully we can get off to a flyer and beat them to get our competition underway. I don’t think they quite know how to beat us yet, especially in Australia.
“We’ve obviously proved that over the last few years and especially in this series again, beating them a few times. So they’ll be scratching their heads I guess of how to get on top of us in this first game.”
24-year-old Hazlewood is happy that the Australians have a settled side and a winning formula.
“I think that was a good indication the other night of what the XI is going to be, obviously apart from little injuries here and there,” he said. “Shane (Watson) is getting pretty close. He had a little bowl the other day off a short run, so he’s looking good, he’s got a couple more days now to get what he needs and I’m sure he’ll be right to go.
“I think we’ll stick with the same XI throughout most of the World Cup – with the games being a week apart there’s no reason to rest fast bowlers so it should be all systems go.”
“It’s obviously been a breakthrough summer for me in all formats pretty much so I’m happy to keep it going and keep bowling well,” he added. “There’s always a slight breeze wherever you’re playing, which suits the right-hander from one end and the left-hander from the other.
“So it depends which Mitch opens, I’m sure whoever opens will do a great job and I’m excited to hopefully get the new ball on a few occasions and keep doing what I’ve been doing.
“I’ve been working hard for the past few years and it was always a dream; everyone was looking at the World Cup, no matter where you were in Australian cricket.
“So to be part of it now and hopefully grab that new ball for Australia in the World Cup is pretty exciting.
“I’m quite confident now that I can do a job for Australia up front with the new ball.”
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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