Hazlewood Eager to Reunite with Boland as Australia Prepares for Packed Test Schedule

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has expressed his desire to play alongside Scott Boland more frequently rather than compete with him for a place in Australia's Test XI, as he eyes a long-awaited return to red-ball cricket against Bangladesh in Darwin next month.

Hazlewood, 35, has been sidelined from Test cricket since July 2025 after suffering hamstring and calf injuries that forced him to miss the entire Ashes series. His last Test appearance came in Jamaica, where Australia fielded four specialist pacers—Hazlewood, Boland, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc—in conditions that did not require a frontline spinner.

However, with Nathan Lyon set to return and Darwin expected to favour spin, Australia is likely to select only three fast bowlers for the opening Test against Bangladesh on August 13. That means Hazlewood and Boland could once again find themselves competing for a single spot.

Despite the competition, Hazlewood believes there will be ample opportunities for both bowlers to feature together during Australia's demanding Test calendar over the next 18 months.

"I'd love to play more with Scotty," Hazlewood said during Australia's training camp in Brisbane. "We're obviously a little bit similar, but I think there are still a lot of differences in our bowling. Every time he's come in, he's done unbelievably well. His career just keeps getting better and better the older he gets."

Australia faces a packed schedule of up to 21 Tests over the next year and a half, prompting Hazlewood to highlight the importance of squad depth. Alongside Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood and Boland, Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett are also expected to play significant roles.

"I think there's enough opportunities in the next 12 to 18 months for us to play a lot of cricket together," Hazlewood said. "We'll have to lean on all six fast bowlers at some point."

Tailored Preparation for Test Return

Hazlewood enters the upcoming series with a carefully managed workload after an injury-plagued run that has limited him to just six of Australia's last 14 Tests. He has suffered major injuries in the opening Test or first-class match of four of the past five home summers, making his fitness a key focus for Australia's selectors and medical staff.

The veteran seamer is just five wickets away from reaching the milestone of 300 Test wickets, boasting an impressive career average of 24.21.

Unlike previous preparations, Hazlewood has skipped white-ball commitments to focus exclusively on Test-specific training.

"This is probably the first time we've actually had a lead-in to a Test without playing any matches," he said. "It's been about big bowling days, multiple spells, and back-to-back sessions. It's designed to replicate the demands of a Test match."

One Step at a Time

Despite Australia's busy schedule, Hazlewood is refusing to look too far ahead.

"Every time you look ahead in sport, it can bite you pretty quickly," he said. "I've been taking it day by day, ticking off workloads and preparing for Darwin. Everything else is a long way away."

Still, Hazlewood admitted the squad is motivated by the challenges that lie ahead. Australia is set to embark on a series of high-profile away tours, including South Africa, India and England—three destinations where success would further cement the legacy of the current Test side.

"This group's been together for a long time," Hazlewood said. "England and India are obviously huge series, and I haven't won in South Africa either. Those are big boxes to tick, not just for me but for this whole group. That's definitely been a driving factor during this preparation."