Josh Hazlewood is feeling confident and sharp as he aims to make a strong return to the Australia National Cricket Team for the WTC Final 2025 against South Africa. After dealing with injuries that kept him out of key Test matches, including the last WTC final against India, Josh Hazlewood is now back in form and eager to make a significant impact.
Hazlewood last played a Test match against India in Brisbane, where he had to leave the field due to a calf injury. That setback came after an earlier side strain in the same Test series. However, things are looking brighter this time, and the pacer is determined to tick off a major career goal by playing in a WTC final at Lord’s, having missed last time against India.
The Australian fast bowler recently arrived in England after an excellent IPL 2025 season, where he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lift the trophy with 22 wickets to his name. Soon after landing, he eased into training with a light bowling session at Beckenham and was scheduled for a more intense workout at Lord’s to prepare at full speed.
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In his last 13 Test matches, he scalped 57 wickets at an average under 20 and proved he is still one of Australia’s best fast bowlers. Hazlewood is likely to play ahead of Scott Boland, and he is ready to help Australia defend their title against South Africa at home.
I'm bowling probably the best over my career: Josh Hazlewood
Josh Hazlewood was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo, “I was obviously quite close last time [in 2023]. I just had more of an interrupted IPL leading into that and then had a few little issues going on, so I wasn't quite up to scratch, but I feel in a much better place this time around.
And I think in any format, my numbers over the last two years have been pretty good, so I have a lot to fall back on in terms of skill. I still feel like I'm bowling probably the best over my career, and it's just a matter of the body holding up, which it has been in the last few months.”
Meanwhile, Hazlewood explained that building up intensity in training is one of the most important steps in his preparation for the big games. The Australian fast bowler and the coaching staff are adjusting his training routine to get ready for the demands of Test cricket.
This includes doing strong bowling sessions on consecutive days to prepare Hazlewood’s body for the back-to-back challenges of Test matches. His goal is to be fully ready, both mentally and physically, before the WTC Final 2025 against the Proteas.
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Josh Hazlewood eyes stump-hitting impact at Lord’s
The Aussie star revealed that he is planning to adjust his bowling by pitching the ball a bit fuller in English conditions. Unlike in the IPL, where he bowled slightly shorter lengths, he now wants to aim closer to the stumps, as it will help him be more effective in English conditions and create better chances to take wickets in the final.
Hazlewood signed off by saying, “In the IPL games, I was probably hitting around that seven-to nine-meter mark in the powerplay and not really threatening the stumps as much as you want to in Test cricket, in particular here in England. So, it'll just be about pushing that length and touch fuller and still getting that zip through the keeper.”
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