“It’s about doing the same thing” - Hazlewood on succeeding with the ball in T20s

Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, who starred with the ball in his side’s first Super 12 encounter against South Africa, believes consistency and accuracy are key in T20 cricket, and asserted that it’s a bowler’s responsibility to force the batters to constantly hit fours and sixes off good deliveries.

Taking the new ball, Hazlewood, in Abu Dhabi, ripped South Africa open through a spell of 2-1-1-2 inside the powerplay, and put Australia on the front foot from the get go. Having honed his T20 skills with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL, the Aussie speedster revealed that all he focuses on is hitting the good length over and over again.

"Chatting about how batters are probably expecting that you to change if you are hit for four or six. Think the wickets are a little different here as well, but it's about keep doing the same thing and make them hit fours and sixes off your good deliveries - just above the stumps, a hard length,” Hazlewood said on Monday, reported ESPN Cricinfo.

“That seemed to work for the last few weeks in the IPL and again [against South Africa]. You have to weight it up and move forward with what works best.”

The 30-year-old, however, admitted that there are times “where it (line and length) doesn't work." The right-armer, at the death against South Africa, was taken for 12 runs in one of the overs he bowled, and reflecting on the same, the New South Welshman said that it is also important for bowlers to be smart in terms of how they operate.

"You have to weigh up where the boundaries are bigger, who you are bowling at, so it's about thinking on your feet and preparing for every situation," Hazlewood said.

"There's certainly a place for line and length then there's times where it doesn't work."

Australia won their first Super 12 encounter in Abu Dhabi, but they will now be moving to Dubai, where they will play each of their next three games. Having already played a handful of matches at the venue with the Super Kings, Hazlewood described Dubai as the most stable venue among the three, where conditions tend to remain consistent.

"The conditions don't change a lot there. They probably change more at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The Dubai wicket maintains it pretty well. There might be a slight advantage in batting second."