Josh Hazlewood’s strong return to cricket following injury has been one of the highlights of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His top form – including being the leading wicket-taker with 18 wickets in ten matches as of Thursday – unfortunately spells potential bad news for Scott Boland ahead of the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Crucially, Hazlewood’s ability to maintain his back-of-a-length attack has proven effective across formats, offering him a distinctive edge. Despite the different demands of T20 compared to Test cricket, his recent performances may influence the selectors’ decisions regarding the upcoming WTC final against India.
Two years ago, Boland seized an opportunity when Hazlewood was rested for the Ashes post-WTC final due to injury. Boland excelled, notably at The Oval, aiding Australia in securing a 209-run victory to win the mace. This time round, however, it seems Hazlewood is poised to reclaim his spot unless unforeseen circumstances arise.
Boland, who boasts an impressive Test record of 56 wickets at an average of 17.66 from 13 matches, has found himself mostly as a backup option. Notably, he was only once preferred among the primary pace trio – that during the 2023 Ashes opening Test at Edgbaston. England’s aggressive batting strategy, known as “Bazball”, succeeded against him, leading to modest figures with two wickets at 115.50 and an economy rate of 4.91.
Last season against India, Boland shone as a stand-in for Hazlewood in Adelaide, before giving way once more in Brisbane amidst shuffle. After Hazlewood’s calf strain, Boland responded by claiming 16 wickets in further Tests at the MCG and SCG. Yet, the hierarchy remains clear, leaving Boland to potentially await another chance if misfortune befalls a teammate.
Recovering smoothly from his calf issues, Hazlewood missed only one Test – being rested at Headingley in the Ashes – out of 13 matches since the last WTC final. His ongoing physical resilience, interspersed with occasional setbacks like a hip injury ruling him out of the Champions Trophy, continues to be his narrative. Aaron Finch once noted that selection might need to be savvy about Hazlewood’s Test appearances, yet Hazlewood maintains it’s a matter of timing rather than a reflection of declining physical durability.
“I’ve had a little history of sides and calves, they are probably the two things that have kept me out for the majority of the last four years,” Hazlewood mentioned, reflecting on his recent injury struggles while aiming to reassure on his fitness front.
