Aussie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood 'on track' to return from injury in T20 World Cup opener
Aussie fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is "on track" to be ready for the start of the T20 World Cup next month having watched the entire Ashes series from the stands injured.
Hazlewood missed the start of the series with a hamstring strain, and then missed the remainder with Achilles soreness suffered during the hamstring rehab.
Despite the frustrating double blow, the 36-year-old was confident he would be ready for Australia's tournament opener against Ireland in Colombo on February 11.
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Hazlewood stretching during a practice session in November. Getty
"Everything's going to plan," Hazlewood told ESPNcricinfo.
"We took a few extra weeks once we couldn't make the Test matches. I had a couple of bowls off the half-run last week. Running's going well, all the strength stuff's going well so, yeah, on track."
Hazlewood's availability from the start will be a big boost for Australia, who are fretting over the composition of their pace attack.
Australia have named Pat Cummins in the World Cup squad but are considering delaying his return from a lumbar stress injury that prompted the team to rest the quick after his single Ashes appearance in Adelaide.
With Ashes hero Mitchell Starc having retired from T20 internationals, Xavier Bartlett is set to claim the second pace bowling slot in the group stage of the World Cup.
After the World Cup, Hazlewood will be in action in the Indian Premier League. Later this year, Australia will enter an 11-month stretch during which they will play up to 21 Tests.
Hazlewood said it was too early to plan his Test workload.
"(With) white ball, you can really sit down and nut it out because you know you're involved for four or 10 overs pretty much," he said.
"With the red ball, it is a bit more on the run. You can map out the way you want to train to get ready for that first one, but I think once the Tests start then it's sort of play it by ear and have those conversations on the go."
