“We all are really determined”: Hazlewood plots Australia’s comeback in BGT

Josh Hazlewood eyes Australia’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy redemption, expressing relief at Cheteshwar Pujara’s absence, while anticipating bouncy Perth conditions to help Australia end India’s dominance since 2017.

Australia’s pacer Josh Hazlewood has expressed a strong decision as his team gears up to reclaim the India vs Australia series, also known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) from India. The trophy has remained in India’s hands since their 2017 series win at home. Since then, India has won in three consecutive BGT series, including two historic victories on Australian soil.

Speaking ahead of the series opener in Perth, Hazlewood said, “I know there’s a lot of guys in the shed that have never beaten India in a Test series. Obviously, we’ve beaten them in a World Test Championship (final) in England, but there’s only a couple (in fact, four) of us from that series we won 2-0 way back in 2014-15. So everyone’s really determined. Everyone is pumped, and this is one we need to tick off as a group.”

The only Australian players from the 2014-15 series win over India still in the squad are Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Nathan Lyon.

India’s Pujara absence a relief

India’s batter Cheteshwar Pujara who was an important player in India’s success in the past two BGT series in Australia, is absent from this year’s squad. Pujara was named Player of the Series in 2018-19 for his marathon innings and played a gritty, body-on-the-line knock in the Brisbane Test of 2020-21, which helped India retain the trophy.

Hazlewood admitted Pujara’s absence might ease things for Australia. “I’m pretty happy that Puj isn’t here. He’s one that bats time, and you really earn his wicket every time. He has done really well in Australia on all his tours,” Hazlewood said.

Perth Pitch Favors the Pacers

The series opener will be played at the Perth Stadium, a venue that has been favorable for Australia’s bowlers. Hazlewood shared his excitement about the conditions, saying, “I love playing here in Perth. The wicket’s always a nice one to bowl pace on – bouncy, a few cracks later in the game potentially. The first Test of the summer is always exciting.”

The first Test of the five-match series begins on Friday, with both teams competing for early dominance in this much-anticipated contest.