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The in-form star who holds the key to Aussie Ashes hopes
Lachlan Geleit • October 29th, 2025 6:28 pm
Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood is seemingly hitting form at the perfect time.
With 295 Test wickets and counting, Hazlewood has always been a star for his country, but SEN Cricket’s Bharat Sundaresan has never seen him bowl better than right now.
The big right-armer only took three wickets across the three ODIs against India, but could have taken far more if luck had gone his way.
With his line and length as accurate as he has been and his rhythm looking perfect, Sundaresan thinks that Hazlewood’s fitness - particularly with captain Pat Cummins out for the first Test - now might be the most important piece for Australia this upcoming Ashes series.
If Hazlewood does stay fit for the whole summer, Sundaresan can’t see the Aussies losing.
But if he breaks down, the home side could be in all sorts of trouble.
“This is why I think Hazlewood is going to hold the key,” Sundaresan told SEN Whateley.
“The way he is bowling right now, I really want Australia to keep him in cotton wool.
“He’s bowling as well as I’ve really seen anyone bowl in a long time. The three spells we saw from him in the ODIs were amazing.
“Josh Hazlewood, if he stays fit for all five (Tests), I think there’s no doubt Australia are going to win.
“But if he doesn’t play more than three, then I think Australia could be in trouble.”
Former Aussie quick Damien Fleming is another who is salivating over Hazlewood’s current form.
Like Sundaresan, he has his fingers crossed that the 34-year-old can last all five Tests to give Australia its best chance of winning.
“I just look at his run-up now and it looks so well-grooved,” Fleming said.
“By the time he’s halfway through it, you just expect, ‘This is going to be a good ball’.
“He bowls a huge percentage of high-quality deliveries in all three formats.
“We need him, he’s only had one full Test summer once in the last five years, that’s two years ago.
“If a Starc or Hazlewood goes down, then we are starting to get into those questionable fast-bowling stocks.”
The first Test between Australia and England begins on November 21 at Optus Stadium. Catch every ball of the Ashes on SEN - your home of cricket.
