Cricket Australia (CA) has given a big update on its star pacer Josh Hazlewood's fitness ahead of the all-important World Test Championship (WTC) final against India and the five-match Ashes series against England.
Hazlewood's recurring injury has kept him away from cricket for quite a long time now as the star Australian pacer missed the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India. Not just that, he could only play just three matches for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the ongoing IPL in which he bowled only nine overs.
After playing his last game for RCB on May 9 he returned to Australia after reporting side soreness.
Hazlewood's presence in Australia's pace attack will be a major boost but the injury concerns ahead of the marquee clash against India which will be played from June 7 from June 11 at the Oval, will only give Pat Cummins' brigade a major headache.
Notably, Hazlewood's name is there in Australia's squad for the WTC final and the first two Ashes Tests.
However, in the recent development CA has given a major update on Hazlewood's fitness and revealed that the latest scans show no damage and the star pacer has now returned to bowling with team about to leave for the UK.
Australia's Cricket Board are upbeat about Hazlewood's fitness and said that he will be fit and firing for the coming Test matches and is ready to bolster Australia's bowling attack alongwith Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
"Josh Hazlewood returned home from the IPL last weekend after experiencing minor side soreness after the completion of his most recent IPL match. After a brief and precautionary rest period, Hazlewood returned to high-intensity bowling last week and will continue to increase his bowling workloads in preparation for the WTC and Ashes series. Hazlewood is considered fit and available for the WTC and Ashes Series," CA spokesperson said.
