Ashes 2019 | When the other team makes changes, you’re doing something right, says Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood reckons that his team must be doing at least a few things correctly in the on-going Ashes if it has forced their opposition, England, to make significant changes to their lineup. However, even the Aussies themselves are open to making as many as four changes for the fourth Test.
Hazlewood is happy that they’ve got the opposition scrambling for ideas to fix their lineup ahead of the penultimate Test of what has been an absorbing series thus far. It is understood that England may choose to open the innings with Joe Denly and move the struggling Jason Roy down to No.4.
"Whenever the other team are changing plans means you're doing something right. Whoever is at the top, whatever the order, it's the same plans, what we've talked about before, keeping it simple, patient, disciplined,” Hazlewood said, reported ESPNCricinfo.
However, it is equally likely that Australia may field as many as four changes to their team from the XI that took the field in Leeds. While recalling the fit-again Steven Smith is an obvious choice, Mitchell Marsh, who is in contention to replace Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, and Peter Siddle are the is also in the mix for a return.
“That's where we want to get to as a squad, I think, have those six [bowlers in the squad] all firing, even Michael Neser bowling really well this game keeps the pressure on you as a player in the team. It's always good, healthy competition. That's a great measure of how the group's going. That they are putting pressure on the guys who are playing. That can make the difference. They can easily mope around. It's a long tour. They're buzzing around, and working on their games, and it's great," he said.
Having got so infuriatingly close to retaining the Ashes in England for the first time since 2001, the Australians have been confronted with the dilemma of balancing introspection about Headingley and their belief in the plans that have taken them to the brink of victory.
"It can feel like it's moving pretty quickly in those situations. The crowds are quite loud as well, it's hard to hear people, we certainly could have taken our time a little bit more and communicated a little bit better with the field, the skipper and bowler. We looked at it on the whole - a very good performance from our bowling group. We got beaten by a helluva player at the end. We've certainly talked about that, what we could have done differently with fields, different bowling,” Hazlewood said.
Personally, the 28-year-old is in an excellent space after picking up nine wickets at Leeds – including a five-fer in the first innings to bowl the hosts out for just 67.
"It certainly feels like I'm bowling well. Ever since I bowled at Worcester a few weeks back, I took it into Lord's and Headingley. I think I'm not trying to do too much, try and be very simple, not try and swing the ball, occasionally I do when it gets a bit older but just hitting that right length with the new ball, making them play, not try and do too much, try and keep it simple. Dry that scoreboard up, build pressure with maidens, make him play on the front foot, not try and do too much as a whole group," Hazlewood added.
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