Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson has called for players like Sam Constances, Josh Inglis, and Scott Boland to be given a chance in the playing eleven.
After Australia’s defeat in the ICC Test Championship final, Johnson sharply criticized Josh Hazlewood. According to the former fast bowler, Hazlewood prioritized the IPL over national team preparations.
Hazlewood, who played a major role with the ball in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL title win this season, was ineffective in the Test Championship final. At Lord’s, against South Africa, he bowled 34 overs across two innings but took only two wickets.
Hazlewood missed Bangalore’s last IPL match before the tournament was suspended due to the India-Pakistan conflict because of a shoulder injury. Like many other overseas players, he returned home after the suspension. Although the IPL resumed a week later, the 34-year-old pacer was still undergoing rehabilitation in Australia and rejoined his team only before Bangalore’s last group match.
He played a crucial role in the first qualifier by taking 3 wickets for 21 runs, helping his team to victory. In the final, he took one wicket. Playing 12 matches, he was Bangalore’s highest wicket-taker with 24 scalps, ending their 18-year wait for an IPL title.
The IPL final took place on June 3. From the next day, Australia began preparations for the Test Championship at Beckenham, England. Hazlewood joined the squad later.
Due to injury, the tall pacer missed the previous Test Championship final. Although he got the chance over Scott Boland to play this final, he failed to make an impact. Nathan Lyon also struggled, failing to take any wickets in 34 overs across both innings. South Africa ended Australia’s 27-year title drought by winning by 5 wickets on Saturday.
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Hazlewood, and Lyon are considered Australia’s ‘Big Four’ bowlers, collectively taking over 1,500 Test wickets. However, Johnson believes selectors should consider changes going forward. In a strongly worded column for Western Australian, he especially criticized Hazlewood.
“Our successful ‘Big Four’ bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon cannot be taken for granted moving forward. In recent years, we’ve seen fitness issues with Hazlewood, and his decision to return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) rather than national team preparations was surprising. Even on the third day of the match, Lyon was below his best.”
Most Australian Test players are over thirty. After the final, captain Cummins hinted at a possible rebuild. Johnson suggested giving opportunities to players like Sam Constances, Josh Inglis, and Scott Boland, who have been left out.
Australia will play three Tests on their upcoming West Indies tour starting June 25.
