Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood believes the conditions in his country may give some relief to the bowlers during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Australia will be hosting the Men’s T20 World Cup for the first time and Hazlewood feels the conditions and the size of the ground may suit bowlers in a format that is usually ruthless to them.
Hazlewood said of the situation in Australia, ‘It is probably a little better for the bowlers. “The outfields are big, the pace of the wickets is a bit high, [you can] Use those boundaries to your advantage, depending on where you’re playing on the team, there are sometimes short and long boundaries.”
Australia, who are the hosts and defending champions, have not been at their best in the death overs but Hazlewood believes that the conditions could turn in Australia’s favor there. He highlighted the recent experience in India as a good experience for his team ahead of the tournament.
“It was a great test to see where we are at. Many got to end up on the thickest wickets and shortest boundaries against the game’s best hitters,” he said.
“There’s always things to work out – what areas do you want at certain times, what ball are you bowling, how are you sequencing it. But there’s no better practice than that and we’ll be better for runs.” “
Australia play five more T20Is at home ahead of the tournament – a two-match series against West Indies and three more matches against England. Speaking about the competition in such tournaments, Hazlewood said that the competition would be a “cut-off”.
“It’s very cut-throat and it probably adds to the excitement from the first ball that it’s game and no practice. There’s probably an extra level of intensity to the tournament.”