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Michael Clarke and Ross Taylor are new leaders with talent, but on the first day of the series each had moments to forget as their sides edged nervously into action

Daniel Brettig at the Gabba01-Dec-2011Watching a damp first day of the first Test of the Australian summer, it was hard not to conclude the occasion had played as much a part in a muddled day’s cricket as the attributes and failings of two modest teams. Years ago, The Band’s composer Robbie Robertson had penned the song Stage Fright with the lines, “Your brow is sweatin’ and your mouth gets dry / Fancy people go driftin’ by. The moment of truth is right at hand / Just one more nightmare you can stand.” In Brisbane there seemed to have been plenty of players on both sides who endured a sleepless night before curtain-up.First it was Australia, then New Zealand, then Australia again. The hosts and the visitors took turns fluffing their lines on the first day, before the weather decided to fluff its own by serving up dull light, then a storm. Neither side looked quite ready for the mental demands of a Test. New Zealand having played only three such matches this year, and Australia sporting three debutants, plus another trio with a mere 24 matches between them.The captains had made all the appropriate noises on match eve, while the coaches, John Wright and Mickey Arthur, are widely known as advocates for those two accomplices – patience and pressure. Arthur, of course, has only been Australia’s coach for a week, and at times in the lead-up it felt as though the sheer newness of the team and its support staff might overwhelm the hosts even as they faced one of the world’s more modest international teams. Wright has had more time with his men, but few Test matches with which to educate them. The last, against Zimbabwe, took place on a Bulawayo pitch about as similar in character to the Gabba surface as the earth is to the moon.On a helpful pitch under skies amenable to swing, Michael Clarke’s young pace attack made a halting start, before tightening up just enough to coax Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder into three of the daftest shots seen on the first day of a Test match. Gifted the momentum by these strokes, the Australians then contrived to drop Dean Brownlie twice, allowing him and Daniel Vettori to mount something of a recovery.Clarke and Taylor are new leaders, both possessing talent, but on the first day of the series each had moments to remember, and others to forget. Taylor’s decision to bat upon winning the toss was brave, backing the aggression of Brendon McCullum to transcend conditions best described as slow and seaming. But his haywire over against James Pattinson, culminating in an edge onto the stumps little more than a minute before lunch, was indefensible.Marshalling a bowling attack composed of three striplings and Peter Siddle, Clarke might have made an early misstep by giving Pattinson the first over of the match. He certainly erred by not having Siddle or another man of experience at mid-on or mid-off to ease the nerves, and Pattinson was set about by McCullum to surrender 13 from his first six deliveries in Tests. Clarke and his bowlers would improve from there. In Mitchell Starc, he located a left-arm bowler with plentiful natural gifts but also a tendency to be lucky – Napoleon Bonaparte would have considered him for General after watching McCullum pick out point with an airy cut.Less fortunate was Usman Khawaja, who does not look a natural at short leg. Plenty of deliveries flew past him or at him, and a trio of difficult chances went to ground. He would claim an easier one, but a tendency to place his weight on his heels made Khawaja look like he was under the helmet because he was one of the juniors in the top six, rather than for any accomplishment close to the bat.The most compelling passage took place when Nathan Lyon joined the fray before lunch, gaining sharp spin and disconcerting bounce to defeat Kane Williamson – an apparent graduate of the Blair Pocock / Matthew Sinclair school of footwork – while ever so nearly tempting Ryder to push a catch to cover with his first ball. The Gabba can offer useful early spin while the pitch is still somewhat moist, as Daniel Vettori had discovered the first time he played at the Gabba in 1997. Lyon exploited it artfully, and had plenty of support from Clarke’s fields. Ryder did not settle from his early tribulations against Lyon’s spin, and shortly after resumption followed McCullum in carving Starc straight to point.Grateful for these offerings from opponents unsure of themselves, Australia would nonetheless go on to spurn all further ones. Brownlie’s origins are in Western Australia, and his mind appeared to wander back west when he picked out Clarke at slip, then Warner at point. But both chances went down, much to the surprise of the crowd, and perhaps to the sly advantage of Steve Rixon, the fielding coach absent from Gabba preparations as he negotiates the possibility of another contract. Rixon’s drills had Australia fielding more sharply than at any time for some years, in Sri Lanka and South Africa.The reprieves allowed Brownlie and Vettori to craft a fighting stand, and quietly they constructed the most prolonged period of control by either side on the first day of the series. Rain culled 39 overs from the day’s play, leaving both sides to ponder plentiful wrong moves. For Australia the occasion seemed to affect a handful of their number, and for New Zealand the fifth wicket fell before there was a full appreciation of the format being played. It is clear the visitors need to play more Test cricket, and equally clear that Clarke’s team needs time to settle. The nerves in evidence on day one at the Gabba will not subside otherwise.

Watching the second Test wend its way towards a draw, it occurred to Vaneisa Baksh that the most exciting cricket really comes from evenly matched teams

Vaneisa Baksh03-Jun-2008
Ramnaresh Sarwan may have scored a century on the final day, but by then the match had a tired air © Getty Images
Watching the second Test wend its way towards a draw, it occurred to me that the most exciting cricket really comes from evenly-matched teams, even if they are not strong ones. The cricket is at its most competitive, twisting us into the knots we need to be in to keep watching for five days.By the final day in Antigua, with Australia having declared twice, and West Indies never really sparkling, it had become onerous. Even when the captain Ramnaresh Sarwan made his 11th Test century it had a tired air, as if we had waited too long for him to convert another fifty to a hundred. Ian Bishop mentioned that Sarwan had experienced a good season on account of his three fifties and a century in the Sri Lanka series. That is true, but Sarwan has been playing for eight years, and is an exceptionally good batsman who should have been able to turn more of his 30 half-centuries into hundreds. As it was, he lasted until 128 – a necessary innings if only for pride and to keep the series alive with a draw – and alongside him was the rock, Shivnarine Chanderpaul.Chanderpaul made another century in the first innings, and when the match ended with Ricky Ponting deciding it was not worth his while to plod on, he was 77 not out, having partnered Sarwan to guide West Indies to their first draw with Australia since 1995, and earning the Man-of-the-Match award. “Play it safe,” he said, just try to last it out – an ethic that seems terribly at odds with the flamboyance associated with West Indies cricketers.He held ground the way only Chanderpaul can in these times. In the first innings, his heroics had been simply another day’s work to him, that stoic, workman’s approach to the game that has empowered him above all in this team given to view their wickets as castaways. In truth, it was every man playing according to his nature during the series thus far. Nothing really new has emerged.In the first Test, the bowlers did what had been longed for and reaped wickets, and by doing so went into the second match with a larger measure of hope. Yet the batting was indifferent, and cost a game that should have been the reward for four good days. This has been the nature of the West Indies team; when the bowling and/or fielding is true, the batting tells lies, and vice versa. Rarely do all the elements join the chorus, and this is not just reflective of the squad members.At the barely scuffed grounds of the Sir Vivian Richards stadium in Antigua, what greeted them? They found a pitch that the journalist Garth Wattley described as “a lifeless, brown stretch of earth,” adding vividly that “there was more discernible movement in molasses than off it [on the first day]”.To compete on this corpse, there were no recognised spinners, and five pacers with little difference among them. In a grand sweep, the selectors managed to deflate the momentum gained by the quicks in the previous match because they were asking them to ply their trade on a surface that absorbed their wiles without giving anything back. They also managed to suppress further what little hope there might be for spinners having a chance on the West Indies team, as they again communicated their vision that spin is part-time work for some batsmen.One imagines pitch preparation aligned to the strengths of the home team, and one imagines selections based on maximising conditions that exist – desirable or not. Home advantage did not seem to be a worthy consideration for the administrators.The result was a first day’s play that was excruciatingly lifeless, as if the pitch had sucked away all the energy in its precincts. Spectators could not be bothered to come. There was no West Indian energy to come from off the field, as it did at Sabina Park. Even the fielders couldn’t keep their focus, and under the circumstances, the fumbles were costly and painful to the hard-working bowlers.To make matters worse, the drainage on the outfield was bad enough to lose two sessions on the third day, causing much lamentation over the enormous cost incurred to try to fix this problem repeatedly after it had become evident at the World Cup last year. It was embarrassing, and one wonders whether this had been factored into the decision to hold one of the matches on the ground. Poor umpiring decisions contributed to reducing the scores, a continuing source of debate over technology use.For Ricky Ponting’s men, it would be gratifying to hold on to the Sir Frank Worrell trophy even before they set foot on Barbados soil for the final match. The retirement of Stuart MacGill leaves Australia with yet another hole to fill, but they are a resilient bunch, with a cricket ethic that leaves them formidable even under pressure. The third Test may yet be the most revealing of what might be a turning point for both sides. If only the series was longer.

Retiring Jharkhand stalwart hopes to realise his dream of winning the Ranji Trophy by “helping the team from the outside”

Rajan Raj20-Feb-2024A day before the start of the Jharkhand vs Haryana Ranji Trophy fixture at Jamshedpur’s Keenan Stadium, while the local Jharkhand boys were training, a young boy strolled out to the turf. When a securityman stopped him, he teared up and said he only wanted a selfie with Saurabh . Saurabh Tiwary wasn’t around at the time, but the fans didn’t know that. After the boy, a few others attempted to get into the ground to try and meet him.Tiwary’s popularity in the Jharkhand cricket circles has to be seen to be believed. Plus, of course, a few days earlier, it had become known that Tiwary would retire at the end of Jharkhand’s run in the ongoing season, which came on February 19, also at the Keenan, as Jharkhand beat Rajasthan to finish their Ranji Trophy campaign. When Tiwary went out to bat a second time in that game, the opposition players lined up to give him a guard of honour.”Saying farewell to your favourite thing isn’t easy, my friend,” Tiwary, now 34, said afterwards. “When I left the dressing room and was entering the ground, it was very emotional. My whole journey, from the time I was a kid to now, flashed before my eyes. I started my career here [at Keenan Stadium] and am finishing here too. My favourite people, including my coach [Kajal Das] had come to be part of the occasion. Sometimes, it’s difficult to express the feeling.”Related

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Once the farewell match got over, Tiwary walked over the pitch, tears in his eyes, bent down and kissed the turf. Das, who has also coached the Jharkhand team in the past, was in attendance, and recalled an old story that gives you a glimpse into Tiwary the person.”He must have been 15 or 16, and a ball hit his head during training. He needed some stitches. He went to the hospital and came right back to me. I told him to pad up and go bat in the nets [and he did so] – I wanted to see if he was scared and wanted to test him,” Das said. “I have never had a student as dedicated as Saurabh. His keenness to be at the ground and his hunger for runs is unmatched.”Tiwary wore the India cap – in three ODIs, in late 2010 – and had a lengthy run in the IPL, playing 93 matches across 11 seasons between 2008 and 2021, missing out only in 2014, 2018 and 2019. The only time Jharkhand won a domestic tournament, the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2010-11, Tiwary was the captain. Add to that 8076 first-class runs, 4050 in List A cricket, 3454 in T20s… one dream, however, remained unfulfilled.”Cricket has taught me two things. One is that you have to fight for everything, and the second is that you need to understand you won’t get everything in life. Some things will remain out of reach,” Tiwary said. “I had a dream that we will win the Ranji Trophy but I couldn’t achieve it. That takes us back to the thing about fighting for everything. I will now try to play my part in helping the team win the Ranji Trophy, but from the outside. And I will do whatever I can to make it happen.”

Mexico international Obed Vargas put his “respect” for Lionel Messi on hold when facing the Argentine GOAT in the Leagues Cup final.

Sounders landed major silverwareMessi and Co kept quietReunion in MLS fast approachingFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Promising midfielder Vargas lined up for the Seattle Sounders as they played host to Inter Miami in a contest that saw major silverware come up for grabs. The 20-year-old was left beaming with pride at the final whistle.

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The Sounders claimed a resounding 3-0 victory over MLS rivals, with the deadlock broken inside 26 minutes before wrapping up a memorable triumph in the closing stages. Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi was kept surprisingly quiet throughout.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tempers did boil over at the final whistle, as emotion spilled out for both teams, but Vargas was delighted to get his hands on a winners’ medal. He spoke to while draped in a Mexican flag.

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GettyWHAT VARGAS SAID

Vargas said of lining up against all-time great Messi and denying the most decorated player in history another addition to his record-shattering trophy collection: “Messi is a great player, I admire and respect him a lot; but on the field he’s my rival and I had to do everything possible to beat him.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia Palacios mudará de ares na temporada de 2023. Nesta terça-feira, o Vasco anunciou que o jogador de 22 anos será cedido ao Colo-Colo. O Cruz-Maltino afirmou que há opção de compra ao final do empréstimo, em dezembro deste ano.

O Vasco investiu US$ 1,5 milhões (por volta de R$ 8 milhões) em Palacios. Revelado pelo Unión Española, o chileno teve uma passagem pelo Internacional antes de desembarcar em São Januário em abril de 2022.

+Missa e enterro de Roberto Dinamite: veja imagens do adeus ao ídolo do Vasco

RelacionadasVascoPrestes a assinar com o Vasco, Jair chega ao Rio de Janeiro na noite desta terça-feiraVasco10/01/2023ListasVasco acerta com goleiro, Flamengo desiste de meia… o Dia do Mercado!Listas10/01/2023Fora de CampoVascaíno veio ao Rio para velório de Dinamite e descobriu participação do irmão na casa de vidro do BBBFora de Campo10/01/2023

Em seu período na Colina, Palacios atuou em 24 vezes e balançou a rede em uma oportunidade. Seu vínculo com o Cruz-Maltino dura até o meio de 2025.

Manchester United could be on the brink of snapping a record lasting nearly 88 years and more than 4,000 games as the new season nears.

Man Utd on brink of losing recordDates back 88 years and 4,000+ gamesHopes of extending run lie in select fewFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to The Athletic, United have named a player who has come through their academy in every first-team squad since October 1937. That's a run of 4,321 games, 44 major trophies, 18 league titles, and three European Cups. 

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However, that run is now looking 'unusually vulnerable' ahead of the 2025/26 season if the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo are sold. The former is eyeing a move to Chelsea but the latter could stay put. However, if the 20-year-old picks up an injury or a suspension, that remarkable Red Devils academy run could finally come to an end.

DID YOU KNOW?

Figures show that last season at United, the average number of youth players in each first-team squad was 4.51 – a drop of 6.65 from the previous year. For the upcoming campaign, it could be the lowest number for three decades.

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United will hope they can retain some of their best academy products, and perhaps some new names will rise up the youth ranks and extend this impressive club run. Ultimately, though, Ruben Amorim's team will focus on results rather than these types of records.

Chamari Athapaththu, who has been in the middle of a sensational run of form, has been signed up by Northern Brave for the 2023-24 women’s Super Smash competition, with the team calling it “a huge coup”.Sri Lanka stalwart Athapaththu is playing in the WBBL for Sydney Thunder, and is currently the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament across teams with a tally of 451 runs from 12 innings at an average of 45.10 and strike rate of 134.62, behind only Perth Scorchers’ Beth Mooney, who has 535 runs from 12 innings.In a statement released by Northern Districts, she said she was “super excited” at the opportunity. Athapaththu will join the Northern Brave camp in late December.Related

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“We’re excited to get Chamari around the group,” Eimear Richardson, the Ireland international who is also captain of Northern Brave, said in the statement. “She’s been in great form the last few months and is showing her class in the WBBL currently, so we’re excited to add her firepower to our lineup.”Chamari’s all-round abilities will be a great addition to the Super Smash and is sure to excite the crowds with both bat and ball in hand. It will be great to have a player of her abilities on the park with us.”Athapaththu, the ninth-highest run-getter in women’s T20Is with 2651 runs from 120 innings, has had a sensational 2023. In ODIs, there were the two centuries – 108 not out and 140 not out – against New Zealand at home in Galle in June, which gave Sri Lanka a famous 2-1 series win, while she has hit three half-centuries in 16 T20I innings this year too. Overall, she has 3255 ODI runs at an average of 34.26 with eight centuries, and 2651 T20I runs at a strike rate of 106.20 with one century.A more than handy offspinner, Athapaththu also has 68 wickets in international cricket.Easily the most popular Sri Lankan woman cricketer, Athapaththu has played in the Women’s CPL, for Guyana Amazon Warriors, as well as in the FairBreak Invitational T20 tournament and in the Women’s T20 Challenge At the WBBL, Thunder is her third team, after she turned out for Melbourne Renegades and Scorchers in previous seasons.”We cannot wait to have a world-class player in Chamari join the Northern Brave for this season’s Super Smash competition,” Ian Sandbrook, general manager of performance and talent at Northern Districts, said. “There’s no doubt that her exciting skill set, and destructive x-factor will be a huge addition to our team but just as importantly, to the competition as a whole.”We also know that Chamari will be a great role model and leader within our environment, and imparting these behaviours on our talented young squad is another important step in making the Northern Brave the best performance environment in the country.”Northern Brave’s Super Smash campaign kicks off on December 22 as part of a double-header with the men’s Brave team, who will take on Central Districts’ Hinds (women) and Stags (men) at Seddon Park. Athapaththu is expected to be available for selection for the game against Wellington Blaze on January 2.

Visitors made to follow on after Somerset declaration as Gregory, Abell share seven

ECB Reporters Network22-Sep-2023Relegation-threatened Kent had to endure the ordeal of a final day follow-on before emerging from the rain-ruined LV= Insurance County Championship match against Somerset at Taunton with a potentially valuable draw.The visitors were bowled out for 235 after Somerset had declared their first-innings total on an overnight 404 for 4, Joe Denly making a priceless 73 to guide his side from a perilous 31 for 4. Skipper Tom Abell was the pick of the home bowling attack with 4 for 52, while Lewis Gregory claimed 3 for 49.Trailing by 169 and faced with a possible 41 overs in their second innings, Kent made a better fist of things and were 44 for 2 when the players shook hands at 4.30pm. They took six points from the game and Somerset 12.The home side’s decision to declare on their overnight total robbed Tom Kohler-Cadmore of the chance to break Viv Richards’ record for the fastest first-class century scored by a home player at Taunton – 48 balls against Glamorgan in 1986. The former Yorkshire player was left unbeaten on 68, off 31 deliveries, having struck eight sixes and two fours.But the declaration also offered the hosts their only chance of winning the game. And it soon looked more than an outside bet as Kent lost four wickets in the first 10.3 overs of the day, Gregory claiming three of them from the Marcus Trescothick Pavilion End.The experienced allrounder had Ben Compton caught behind pushing forward, Daniel Bell-Drummond pouched at midwicket off a full toss and Jack Leaning leg-before in a seven-over opening spell of 3 for 30 that included four no-balls.Jack Brooks, on his final Somerset appearance, weighed in with the wicket of Tawanda Muyeye, well caught low down by Andy Umeed at second slip and there was clear evidence of help for the seamers in a pitch that retained a tinge of greenness.The number of times Kent batsmen played and missed offered evidence that their own bowling attack had failed to capitalise on favourable first-day conditions after skipper Leaning had won the toss.The visitors’ need for batting points saw them bat positively in adversity, aided by an unusually wayward three overs from Neil Wagner, which cost 32 runs, mainly due to over-pitching. Denly and Harry Finch added 54 in 10.1 overs before the latter nicked a drive off seamer Abell through to wicketkeeper James Rew.Denly was severe on anything around half-volley length, producing a string of well-timed straight and cover drives to move to 40 by lunch, which was taken at 110 for 5.The afternoon session began well for Kent with Marcus O’Riordan providing good support for Denly, who went to a precious half-century off 74 balls, with eight fours. The pair built on the score with increasing confidence and had added 71 in 17.2 overs when O’Riordan fell lbw moving across his stumps to a delivery from Abell.Still it seemed Kent might avoid the follow-on and perhaps notch a batting point until a clatter of wickets with the total on 200 saw Abell gain another leg-before decision to remove Denly before striking again four balls later, bowling Jas Singh for a duck.With no addition to the score, Joey Evison, who had batted well for his 23, pulled a short ball from Wagner to Tom Banton at square leg. Michael Hogan, injured bowling on the first day, walked out with a runner and contributed 19 to a last-wicket stand of 35 with Arafat Bhuiyan before having his stumps scattered by Abell, who had been prevented from bowling by a side problem for much of the season.Tea was taken before Compton and Muyeye launched the Kent follow-on, knowing their side had garnered only one bonus point from the match and desperate to ensure five for the draw.There was greater assurance to their batting in bright sunshine, but with the total on 34 in the 11th over Josh Davey had Muyeye well caught by the diving Abell at third slip for 24. Compton edged a ball from Wagner that left him through to Rew, but by then the draw was inevitable and after one over from occasional spinner Banton the players shook hand.

Chelsea currently sit in a superb position under boss Enzo Maresca, looking to secure a top-four finish in the Premier League, subsequently claiming a Champions League place next season.

The Blues currently have a one-point advantage over fifth-placed Manchester City with just nine games to go in 2024/25, holding the cards over a return to Europe’s greatest competition.

However, the Italian will want to correct the recent slump in form that has seen his side lose three of the last five league outings, with the prospect of Champions League football one that will financially benefit the club massively.

If they are to return to their best form, many will hope the injury suffered by one player isn’t a serious one, allowing him to make a positive impact between now and the end of the campaign.

An update on Cole Palmer’s recent injury

Attacker Cole Palmer has struggled to produce his best form in recent weeks, failing to register a single goal or assist since the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on the 14th of January.

However, his drought may look to be extending further, after withdrawing from the recent England squad following a muscle injury picked up in training last week.

The 22-year-old missed the 1-0 defeat against Arsenal at the Emirates last Sunday, pulling out of international duty and subsequently being treated by the medical staff in West London.

Palmer was sent for a second scan earlier this week to determine a timeline for his return, with the hope that he can return for the clash with Tottenham Hotspur on April 3rd.

His time on the sideline coupled with his lack of impact when fit has seen one former academy star outscore the club’s talisman this campaign, potentially making the wrong call in allowing him to depart.

The former Chelsea academy star who’s outscoring Palmer

Whilst Palmer has endured a torrid run of form in recent weeks by his usual standards, he’s still managed to star this campaign, registering 14 goals and six assists in his 33 appearances to date.

He’s managed to score the most league goals of any player in Maresca’s squad, proving to be worth every penny of the £40m fee forked out for his signature in 2023.

However, whilst the attacker signed during that window, the club also allowed one other player to depart in the form of academy star Malik Mothersille, who left on a free transfer after his deal expired.

The 21-year-old spent three years at Cobham after joining from Leyton Orient in 2020, catching the eye at various youth levels with his goalscoring exploits.

Mothersille registered 19 goals during his time as a Blue, but it wasn’t enough to force himself into the senior ranks, leaving to gain valuable game time elsewhere to further his development.

The attacker, who’s been dubbed “outstanding” by journalist John Verrall, has certainly done just that, going from strength to strength after joining Peterborough on a free transfer back in September 2023.

Whilst he only managed six goals and five assists in all competitions last campaign, he’s found his goalscoring touch once again in 2024/25, playing a huge part in their relegation battle.

Morhersille has registered 15 goals and eight assists for Darren Ferguson’s men, currently sitting as their top goalscorer and managing to outscore Palmer as a result.

It’s great to see such a promising youngster finally find his feet in the professional game, starting to transfer his talents from youth level – subsequently allowing him to make a name for himself.

Whilst it may only be League One, his record in recent times is evidence of the superb work done by the academy in West London, with the club capable of producing talents just like the 21-year-old for many years to come.

Best signing since Hazard & Kante: Boehly struck gold on Chelsea's "genius"

Chelsea struck gold signing this “world-class” ace who’s their best signing since Hazard & Kante

ByConnor Holden Mar 22, 2025

Injury, as well as an abundance of caution, have seen him play just four Tests in the last two years

Andrew McGlashan14-Jun-2023History could be about to repeat itself for Josh Hazlewood as he waits to see whether his services will be required for the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston. But while he accepts playing the whole series is unlikely given his recent injury record, anything fewer than three appearances would leave him disappointed.One of Hazlewood (222 Test wickets at 25.83), Mitchell Starc (310 wickets at 27.64) or Scott Boland (33 wickets at 14.57) will not make Australia’s side on Friday, with the decision likely to be between the two senior quicks after Boland’s impact in the World Test Championship final against India added to his fairytale start in Test cricket.Neither Hazlewood or Starc made Australia’s starting XI four years ago with James Pattinson and Peter Siddle joining Pat Cummins. Hazlewood, who had missed the preceding ODI World Cup through injury, would go on to play the remaining four games, taking 20 wickets at 21.85 in the 2-2 draw where Australia retained the urn.”If we go back a few years, I would have said [I expected to play] all six [Tests]. But I guess it’s a little bit different now, based on the last two years of history,” he said. “I think three would be nice pass and four is probably a tick. Any more than that is great. Any less then I am probably a little disappointed again.”But I think when you have that depth for each game you [can] really go as hard as you can and then reassess after the game because you always have someone of high quality sitting on the pine and ready to go. So it’s a great position to be in for the team.”Two years, four Tests for HazlewoodA very cautious approach was taken with Hazlewood for the Test Championship final after two years which has seen him play just four Test matches. He returned home from the tour of India with an Achilles injury caused by soft run-ups at the SCG in his previous comeback Test in January and was then withdrawn from the final after leaving the IPL early with side soreness.”I think if it was a one-off game I probably could have played,” he said. “[But] with what’s coming up now, it just would have been too big of a risk. This sets me up nicely if I’m selected for game one, then we have a nice rest after and we’ll take it from there.”Captain Pat Cummins has stated that he wants to play all six Tests on this trip. Meanwhile, Scott Boland believes that it will be tough unless a couple of the games have early finishes. Having missed so much Test cricket of late, Hazlewood is desperate to get his place back but also has tempered expectations.”Think having those [fast bowling] options helps that mindset,” he said. “No doubt you still want to play every game and it’s hard to sit on the sidelines and watch. No shying away from that.”But potentially if you [have] back-to-back Tests and you bowl 50 overs and you’ve someone [like] Boland, Starc or myself on the bench, fresh and ready to go for the next Test, it makes those conversations a little bit easier. The guys are a little bit more open to it to create that longevity. Perhaps the all-format guys are more open to it than others.”He also acknowledged the depth of Australia’s attack means that bowlers don’t push themselves beyond breaking point. “You might miss one or two games with a niggle rather than pushing it and missing three or four months,” he said.Josh Hazlewood presents Test debutant Scott Boland with his ‘Baggy Green’ cap•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesHazlewood’s outstanding English recordWith 222 Test wickets and 36 at 23.58 in England, Hazlewood does not need to prove his credentials, although there are perhaps questions marks around his durability even though coaches and medical staff have been at pains not to link his run of injuries (four of the Tests he missed were also due to conditions in Pakistan and Sri Lanka).He admitted to wanting to make statement when he returned against South Africa in January where he bowled impressively and found reverse swing, only for his exertions as part of a two-man pace attack to sideline him again, but now the overriding emotion is one of anticipation.”I probably felt that maybe a little bit more in Sydney leading into that game. I think in England, my record is pretty good. Pretty confident in these conditions,” he said. “What’s exciting is probably what England have done the last 18 months. It’s what a few of us need to get the best out of ourselves.”England still get out the same wayWith India having been dealt with to secure the World Test Championship, Australia’s quick bowlers will sit down over the next 48 overs to map out their plans for England’s Bazballing batting line-up but they won’t be reinventing the wheel. They are familiar with the majority of the players, although the statistic about Ben Duckett only leaving eight deliveries so far in his Test cricket pricked Hazelwood’s interest.”That’s a quite amazing,” he said. “Obviously he likes bat on ball. So [we will] try and use that to our advantage as best we can.”While we are bowling at their batsmen it’s about sticking to that six to eight metre length. Think what we’ve seen through the numbers in the last 18 months to two years, they are still getting out in similar ways, they are just scoring more runs quickly in between. So it’s about sticking to that line and length. If they hit us off that for five Tests then that’s good for them.”