NEWS
Follow UsAfter playing the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood did not take part in the remainder of the series due to a side strain. His absence however gave birth to some new heroes like Scott Boland and Jhye Richardson, who tasted success during the five-match Test series.
Hazlewood, who is set to return for the T20I series against Sri Lanka at home, starting February 11, recalls his 'unusual' injury. "That carrot was dangling there throughout the whole summer," Hazlewood told Cricket.com.au.
"If I'd had a normal (side strain), a big injury and you know you're going to be out, then you can deal with it all at once. But it just kept teasing, kept teasing, I might be able to play this one, I might be able to play that one.
"I've certainly had a typical side strain, where you tear your oblique (muscle), you can't bowl another ball and are out for at least six or seven weeks.
"This one was different … the strength came back really quickly, and I could do a lot of things in the gym. It was just bowling, that dynamic movement, that caused a bit of grief. It was an unusual one."
Hazlewood played a huge role in Australia's success at the T20 World Cup and is of the opinion that he picked up the injury after his arrival in Australia. "I'd go back to even halfway through quarantine when I was bowling at training," he says.
"We thought it was a bit of just rib impingement because when you tear a muscle, it just goes in one ball. We thought it was something else … but it kept lingering around.
"I got through quite a lot of work in that period and leading into the game (at the Gabba) it was still there a little bit, but I thought I was managing it.
"You try and put your finger on something when you do an injury, whether it's taking shortcuts here or there or an increased workload or you missed your mark at training.
"But I'm not sure with this one, to be honest. There's obviously an increased workload, but apart from that, it was just an unlucky one, I think."
The Australia pacer says it was frustrating to miss out on his team's comprehensive 4-0 Ashes victory. "It was very frustrating," he says.
"You probably don't realise it as much now, but when you look back in 10 years … people will talk about the Ashes when they won 4-0 in 2021 … and it'd hit you again.
"It was frustrating watching and obviously as time goes on, you'd be reminded of it more often than not. But that's part of fast bowling, I guess."
Hazlewood also added that he will not be surprised if some players pull out of the Pakistan tour, slated for next month.
"There's a lot of things in place and there's been a lot of work in the background by CA and the ACA," he said.
"So the trust is quite high there from the players, but there'd certainly be some concerns from the players and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them don't make the tour.
"And that's very fair. People will discuss it with their families … and come up with an answer and everyone respects that."