Brisbane, August 28 2025:
Josh Hazlewood is eyeing a Sheffield Shield outing before the Ashes in November as he prepares to counter what he says will be the strongest England batting line-up he has faced in Australia.
The fast bowler, who featured in four Tests during the 2023 Ashes, said England’s depth with the bat poses a major challenge. “They’re an unbelievable batting line-up, to be honest,” Hazlewood said Wednesday at a Play Cricket Week event. “The top seven have done really well … so it’s a challenge. Definitely the strongest they’ve brought out here.”
Hazlewood, 34, played five of six limited-overs games against South Africa this month but will not feature in September. Instead, he is keen to keep building overs ahead of the opening Test in Perth. “The best way for me is to just keep ticking over, not have too long off bowling,” he said. “Time on the field, multiple spells in a day it’s hard to replicate that at training.”
England’s batting will be led by Joe Root, who averages 35.68 in 14 Tests in Australia without a century, and rising star Harry Brook, the world’s No. 2-ranked Test batter. Brook has yet to play a Test in Australia but Hazlewood expects him to adapt. “He’s a good player … no baggage behind him, so he can come out and play with freedom,” Hazlewood said.
Australia host New Zealand and India in white-ball series ahead of the Ashes. Hazlewood is eager for at least one red-ball hit-out, though timing may be tight with the Shield round starting November 10, just days before the first Test.
