Hazlewood Confident Australia’s Older Bowlers Are Ready for Ashes

Josh Hazlewood is not worried about people calling Australia’s bowling attack “too old” for the upcoming Ashes. The 34-year-old fast bowler said he feels healthy and strong, and believes the group’s years of experience will actually help them play better against England.

Australia’s bowling group has been together for a long time. Nathan Lyon will turn 38 during the series, Mitchell Starc is 35, and captain Pat Cummins is 32. Cummins will miss the first Test, and 36-year-old Scott Boland is likely to take his place in Perth. Even so, Hazlewood said the bowlers are still performing at a high level.

“I feel in the best shape I’ve been in for a long time,” Hazlewood said at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He explained that all the bowlers have played so many matches across different formats that they now understand each other very well. This helps them work smoothly as a team, especially in tough situations.

He admitted that this group will eventually move on, but made it clear that they are not done yet. “There will come a time when we move on,” he said. “But I don’t think that time is now.”

Nathan Lyon also shared similar thoughts this week. Lyon is close to passing Glenn McGrath to become Australia’s second-highest Test wicket-taker, behind only Shane Warne. Despite his age, Lyon said he still feels he has more to give.

“The game has changed,” Lyon said. “There is more focus on fitness, recovery, and preparation than there was ten years ago. I believe age is just a number. I think my best cricket is still ahead of me.”

Australia will look to use their strong bond, experience, and skill to try and keep control of the Ashes — a trophy they have held since the 2017–18 series.

The first Test of the Ashes begins on November 21, marking the start of another exciting chapter in one of cricket’s biggest rivalries.

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