Australia’s formidable pacer, Josh Hazlewood, emerges as a key player in the upcoming Cricket World Cup final against India, offering insights into the anticipated pitch conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Hazlewood’s pivotal role in Australia’s triumphant semi-final clash with South Africa positions him as a key figure to watch in the championship showdown.
In the aftermath of Australia’s three-wicket victory over South Africa, Hazlewood expressed optimism about encountering a favorable pitch in the final. Drawing on the diversity of cricket grounds across India, Hazlewood highlighted the need for adaptability, emphasizing that conditions can vary significantly from one venue to another. Citing the example of Australia’s match against England at Ahmedabad, he anticipates a pitch in Ahmedabad that will cater to both spin and seam, much like their previous encounter.
“The beauty of having so many grounds in one country is that they’re all a little bit different. You adapt your bowling, adapt your batting to those conditions, and we saw tonight it really spun and for us, it nipped around early. We played England at Ahmedabad, and the wicket was pretty good without being an absolute flat track, so I expect probably something similar to that,” Hazlewood shared with Cricket.com.au.
Acknowledging India’s stellar performance throughout the tournament, Hazlewood commended their well-rounded team with strengths in pace, spin, and batting. However, he also highlighted Australia’s ability to exploit weaknesses, alluding to their success in identifying and capitalizing on “cracks” during their previous encounter with India.
As the cricketing world awaits the clash between these two cricketing powerhouses, Hazlewood’s insights into pitch dynamics and strategic adaptability add an intriguing layer to the narrative leading up to the World Cup final.
