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Hazlewood eyes T20 Cup after India ODIs

3 minute read

Josh Hazlewood hasn't played a T20 for Australia since 2016, but hopes the longest stint of white-ball cricket in his career can put him in the World Cup squad.

JOSH HAZLEWOOD.
JOSH HAZLEWOOD. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Josh Hazlewood wants to use his longest stint of white-ball cricket to push his way into Australia's Twenty20 World Cup squad after missing last year's ODI tournament.

Hazlewood made a successful return for Australia on Sunday night against India, taking 1-55 to be the best of the pacemen in his first ODI in 14 months.

The beanpole quick has not played a T20 for Australia since the last shortest-form World Cup in 2016, but wants to break into this year's squad.

He can also help his chances in his BBL return this weekend with the Sydney Sixers, after going at just 4.6 runs an over for them in his first two domestic T20 games this summer.

Hazlewood has also not played 10 straight white-ball internationals without a Test in between since 2016.

But the Aussies have 12 in the next two-and-a-half months and up to another 15 this year before the World Cup after a brief Bangladesh Test tour.

"You don't often get that period of white-ball cricket in a row," Hazlewood told AAP.

"I want to try and get back in the team and cement myself in there. It's been a while since those periods.

"But it absolutely helps (playing chunks of white-ball cricket).

"You get in the rhythm of playing that format. Whether it's one day or T20, it's a lot different to Test cricket."

Hazlewood was ranked as one of the world's best white-ball bowlers two years ago, and was Australia's top wicket-taker in 2017 in ODI cricket.

But he was injured late in the 2018-19 summer, and was controversially overlooked for last year's 50-over World Cup in England.

"A couple of years ago, I was really entrenched in the team," he said.

"I guess through resting after a Test series and not playing one-day series, you give other people opportunities.

"Then it's hard to force your way back in sometimes. It's certainly a goal (to play in the World Cup)."

Australia, however, have put more focus on this year's T20 World Cup than previous ones, as they go in hunt of the only major trophy they have not won.

All three of their frontline quicks were taken on last week's tour of India.

The Test team is also no longer watching T20s from afar, with the strange feeling of sitting together as the Australian team overseas watching Australia play at home.

"There are still some tight turnarounds and, when you bust yourself playing Tests, it's sometimes very easy to say I will miss this series and get ready for the next one," Hazlewood said.

"But the next one is after another Test series and then it's just a flow-on effect that keeps happening."

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