Hazlewood in pursuit of more Test glory with Australia
After an injury-plagued year on the sidelines, the Australian speedster is set to make his long-awaited return to Test cricket.
Josh Hazlewood is set to return to Test cricket after nearly 13 months on the sidelines and is closing in on a major personal milestone, needing just five more wickets to reach 300 Test wickets. Only five Australian fast bowlers have achieved the feat, but Hazlewood insists his focus remains firmly on greater glories with Australia's Test side.
"This group's been together for quite a long time now – the majority of it, anyway – and the big series are obviously England and India," Hazlewood said to cricket.com.au.
"I haven't won in South Africa either, so there's three that are coming up … a few boxes to tick off there (for) not just me, (but) this whole playing group."
Hazlewood cleans up Stubbs with a jaffa | WTC25 Final
Josh Hazlewood also got himself among the wickets by nipping one in to get rid of Tristan Stubbs.
Hazlewood last featured in a Test against the West Indies in July 2025 before a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Ashes. An Achilles problem later delayed his return further, extending his absence from the longest format.
The Australian quick has since put in the hard yards in recent weeks, completing a series of demanding bowling simulations designed to replicate the workload of Test cricket as he prepares for his long-awaited return.
"This is probably the first time we've actually had a lead-in to a Test without any cricket in terms of games," he said.
"Leading into other Test series and Test matches, you're playing T20, you're playing one-dayers, you're travelling, so it's tough to fit those bowling sessions in. This has been tailor-made for a Test match, which should work out well."
Australia's celebrated bowling attack, often referred to as the 'Big Four' of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, has enjoyed a lot of success together. However, the quartet is still chasing a maiden away Test series victory together in South Africa, India and England, giving them added motivation heading into the busy schedule.
"That's been a driving factor during this prep, in the back of your head, and even (in) the months leading into it," Hazlewood said. "(They're) some real big Test series, and they're all away, so (it's) tough competition and hopefully we get the job done."