Veteran Australian pacer eyes impactful return at Lord’s for WTC final

Experienced Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is aiming to make a strong comeback in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa, set to be played at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground from June 11 to 15.

Hazlewood, who hasn’t played a Test since December 2024 against India, is determined to play a key role for his team in the title clash. He showed promising signs in a training session held in Kent soon after returning from the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he stayed active and match-fit.

Speaking to reporters in London before the training, Hazlewood said the focus was on getting his body moving after the long flight.

“Today was more about moving post-flight. I will probably bowl a few more overs tomorrow and aim to tick off all the boxes over the next few days,” he remarked.

The 34-year-old pacer explained that although he has been away from Test cricket, his recent workload in the IPL and red-ball training sessions has kept him prepared for the longer format.

“I had a solid session just before the IPL final in Ahmedabad in tough conditions. Every IPL match also includes warm-ups and game overs, so you easily get in seven or eight overs, and it adds up,” he explained.

While fellow fast bowler Scott Boland made a strong case for selection with a 10-wicket haul in his last Test appearance against India, Hazlewood’s past performances in English conditions keep him in serious contention. He took five wickets at Lord’s during the 2023 Ashes series and has never lost a red-ball game at the venue.

“Any time I bowl in England, I am reasonably confident. Lord’s has treated me well over the years, and I have had some good tours here over the past decade,” Hazlewood noted.

As the Australian squad reunites after playing in different parts of the world, Hazlewood also emphasized the importance of team bonding and shared focus ahead of the one-off final.

“Everyone looks in good shape. It’s great to get everyone together and aligned with what we need to do moving forward,” he added.

The WTC final will be contested between defending champions Australia and South Africa, who finished first and second respectively in the 2023–25 WTC standings.

South Africa topped the table with eight wins in 12 matches. After a 1-1 home draw against India and a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand, they bounced back with series wins over the West Indies (1-0), Bangladesh (2-0), Sri Lanka (2-0), and Pakistan (2-0).

Australia, meanwhile, secured second place with 13 wins and four losses from 19 Tests. Their campaign included a 2-0 victory against Sri Lanka, a 3-1 win over India, a 2-0 result against New Zealand, and a 1-1 draw with the West Indies. They also completed a 3-0 clean sweep of Pakistan, while their Ashes series against England ended in a 2-2 draw.

Australia squad for WTC final:

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.