Hazlewood eager for fresh challenges

When Australia take the field for a warm-up match prior to the first Test against the West Indies later this month, Michael Clarke’s men will begin a gruelling three-month stretch of red-ball cricket.

A three-day tour game in Antigua on May 27 begins a run of 89 days where the Australians play 52 days of red-ball cricket consisting of seven Tests and five tour matches.

With the pitches in both the Caribbean and the United Kingdom expected to be slow and low, the five-strong fast-bowling attack the National Selection Panel has convened for the successive series will shoulder the heavy workload.

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The youngest member of the 2015 edition of the Fast Bowling Cartel, Josh Hazlewood, is hopeful of featuring in all seven Tests.

But the 24-year-old is wary of the troubling history involving young quicks and the injury issues that arise with continuous competitive cricket.

“It will be tough, especially at my age,” Hazlewood told cricket.com.au. “I’ve had my most successful run through the summer playing quite a number of cricket games consecutively.

“We’ve got Mitch Johnson there who’ll lead the way for the majority and Ryan Harris is coming over fresh for the Ashes.

“I’m looking to play as much as I can and hopefully I get picked.”

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After Australia’s triumphant World Cup campaign, Hazlewood returned home to the north-west of New South Wales before heading further north to Brisbane to begin preparation for his first venture to the Caribbean.

The lissom right-armer’s first challenge is the different type of ball he’ll be bowling with.

In the UK and the West Indies, the Dukes ball is the preferred option, and although they’re slightly different in each territory, Hazlewood says he enjoys the thick layer of lacquer on the red ball.

“I quite enjoy bowling with it,” he said. “It seems to swing around a fair bit.

“The wickets in the last Test against England (indicated the pitch was) maybe a bit slow and low towards the end, so maybe (bowling) a bit more stump to stump (will be the plan), a bit like Adelaide.”

While Hazlewood will be making his maiden voyage to the archipelago, the Test squad boasts a number of players who have played cricket in the Caribbean, and the Sydneysider will be drawing on the knowledge of the entire playing group as his star continues to rise.

“There’s quite a lot of experienced guys in the team and the staff as well,” he said.

“I work with ‘Billy’ (Craig McDermott), and the quicks are quite a close-knit group with ‘Johno’ and ‘Ryno’ and ‘Starcy’ and myself.

“Us younger guys learn a lot off the older guys just by watching how they go about their training and in games and in preparation.

“You take a bit from everyone.

“Some of the batters are good to talk to as well when you’re bowling to them in the nets.

“‘Watto’ and guys like that, they see different things from the other end. It’s good to take a bit from everything.”