Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood eager to return to basics

Melbourne, September 23 -  Australian Pace bowler Josh Hazlewood is eager to get back to the basics this summer, starting with the Matador One-Day Cup, and reclaim his spot in Australia's Test XI.Hazlewood and fellow quick Mitchell Johnson have been rested for next month's tour of Bangladesh where pitches will be low, slow and favour the slower bowlers.

But the 24-year-old will play for the NSW Blues in the domestic one-day tournament. The right-armer, known for his ability to maintain consistent line-and-length, had a mixed Ashes series.

"I had little break, three-and-a-half weeks off bowling, just enough to get stiff and sore again when you start back up, but I'm really looking forward to getting going again," Hazlewood was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Wednesday.

He was the leading wicket-taker for Australia during the first three Ashes Tests with 13 scalps, but was unusually wayward during the fourth match in Trent Bridge, with figures of 2/97 from 24 overs with three uncharacteristic no-balls and a wide.

"I think I started very well, the first two Tests were probably the best for me, then things caught up with me," Hazlewood said.

"I think I just probably lacked consistency in the third and fourth Tests. I probably tried to do a bit too much with the ball. You see that Dukes ball swinging and nipping around and you try and do too much, rather than just be patient.”

"I think the Australian wickets are going to be a bit flatter and it will suit that, you have to be a bit patient and wait for wickets." 

Hazlewood missed the fifth Ashes Test with a niggle and did not play in the one-day series that followed, but he confirmed that he was now ready to return to bowling.

"Everything should be fine once I get back up and running," he said.

(IANS)