Mitchell Johnson Slams Hazlewood's IPL Prioritization
Former Australian bowler Mitchell Johnson questioned Josh Hazlewood's choice to prioritize the IPL over training with the national team. Johnson spoke after Australia's loss against South Africa in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Fitness and Prioritization in Question
Hazlewood's physical woes have continued in the last couple of years. Johnson indicated that the bowler opted to take part in the rescheduled IPL instead of concentrating on national team obligations. In his opinion, this created doubts about Hazlewood's commitment towards international cricket.
Strong IPL Performance, Weak WTC Output
Hazlewood performed well in the current year's IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore. He secured 22 wickets and played an important part in their championship victory. His performance was not so impressive in the WTC final, where he could manage just two wickets, disappointing critics.
Injury Recovery Timeline Criticized
Hazlewood was coming back from injury at the time of the IPL playoffs, and Johnson opined that this was a detrimental factor for the preparations of the national team. Johnson said his return for the league rather than the WTC might have impacted his game in the final.
Australia's Bowling Attack Under Scrutiny
Johnson said the Australian bowling unit—Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins, and Lyon—lacked impact in the WTC final. He feels the team should consider new players and not rely too much on senior bowlers if they aim to improve in future Test matches.
Focus Should Shift to Long-Term Planning
He also spoke on the notion of a few players retiring post-Ashes, and opined that selectors need to think in terms of the future while creating a team and not solely rely on experience.
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