Xtra Time Web Desk: Australian pace bowler Josh Hazlewood has tasted some sort of success against Indian captain Virat Kohli in recent times. Hazlwood dismissed Kohli for the fourth consecutive time in ODIs this year but the pacer said he would look for a fresh start against the star Indian batsman. “I’ve had some luck of late in the white ball stuff. You take a little bit into the next format but I think it’s pretty much a fresh start, a different story again with the pink ball. He has obviously scored some runs last time with the red bull.
“It’s just crucial to start well against him. I’ve got him in both the innings in both the innings in one Test so it’s crucial to start well.”
India won the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2018-19 and the series witnessed the Aussie bowlers lose intensity after the first two Tests. Hazlewood hoped to “swing it around” this t this time. “Probably our bowlers did not get enough rest in between innings with Pujara facing a lot of balls. I guess in a long series that’s the batsmen’s goal to score runs and win that Test but also to keep the frontline attack out of the field as long as possible, which probably exactly what happened last time around.”
In the third Test in Melborune in December 2018, Team India declared for 443 for seven after batting for 169.4 overs that saw Starc bowling 28 overs, Hazlwood toiling for 3 for 31.4 overs while Pat Cummins sent down 34.
“We had spent a lot of time on the field in Melbourne with short rest in between and then again in Sydney.
Meanwhile the Australian team will be bolstered by the return of Mitchell Starc for the first Test against India. The senior speedster has been phenomenal in pink ball games, said his pace bowling partner Josh Hazlewood. Starc has the top bowling figures in the pink ball with 42 wickets at an average of 19.23 in from seven D/N Tests, will rejoin the squad here on Monday after his ‘compassionate leave’ due to family illness.
“He’s obviously a huge part of our team and attack. Everyone knows his numbers with the pink ball. We welcome him with open arms,” said Hazlewood.