Josh Hazlewood names the key Australian player for the Test series

The much-awaited Test series between Australia will be starting in a couple of days in Adelaide. This is one of the best chances for the visitors to register maiden Test series victory down under in the absence of Steve Smith and David Warner. But the Aussie pace attack can play a huge role which is the best in the World. However, Josh Hazlewood feels Nathan Lyon, being the lone spinner in the line-up, will be key during the series.

He attributed the off-spinner to hold one end up in order to give the three-man pace attack some rest during their fiery spells. Australia will be banking on their bowlers to catch the Indian batting contingent by surprise which is riding high on confidence ahead of the series.

“He’s the key for me with the four of us, you have Starcy who bowls shorter spells and sometimes Patty too so to have Nath, it even worked well two weeks ago when we played the shield game,” he said in a media interaction on Monday. The 27-year old also spoke about Lyon’s wicket-taking ability as it makes life much easier for the speedsters who can go at full throttle. “It’s hard to get a fun off him and he takes wickets, it’s good to have that down the other end and he makes that group what it is”.

Referring to each bowler in the team as ‘leader in his own right”, he also emphasizes on the aspect of bowling well in partnerships as it helps the bowlers do well for each other and eventually for the team. “Partnerships are a big one for us, always bowling for the guys following you. We’re all leaders in our own right.”

Excitement is the main thing

Josh Hazlewood also expressed his excitement of having a new crop of players in the side and more so of the debutant Marcus Harris. “I feel a lot of extra excitement, potentially a debutant [Marcus Harris], it’s always good to have that around the group. We’ve got a couple of days’ training to fine tune a few things. A few guys have played a lot of cricket, but excitement is the main thing,” the Aussie pacer added.

Having made his Test debut in 2014, Hazlewood has played 40 Test matches and picked up 151 wickets at an average of 26.85. He is currently ranked No.11 in the world and is keen to make in-roads in the much-anticipated Test series against India, the very team he made his debut against.

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~Written by Harikrishnan Sivakumar