Star pacer explains how players balance all formats, revealing Australia’s workload strategy ahead of Ashes

With cricket becoming a year-round pursuit, playing all formats might be taking a toll on players but experienced Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood feels it is possible to do the balancing act with meticulous planning and strategising.

Hazlewood, one of the most feared Australian fast bowlers, who has consistently played all formats along with Pat Cummins, recently missed the last three T20Is against England to play a Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales against Victoria to prepare for the Ashes.

The 34-year-old said picking and choosing games is the right way to maintain the career balance and remain refreshed for the entire season.

“I think it’s (playing all formats) possible to a degree. I think Australian cricket is getting a lot better. In a five-match series, playing Games 1, 3 and 5, or 1, 2 and 3 and then heading home for a few weeks just to refresh or missing the odd one game or something like that…,” said Hazlewood in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast.

“…just, get home for a week and maximise that time and refresh and come back to the group. So, I think, not resting the whole series but picking and choosing your moments, I think that’s the biggest (team) meeting we have, go through the calendar, see exactly what we want to play,” the pacer, who will be integral to Australia’s hopes in the upcoming Ashes along with Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Hazlewood and Cummins will, however, miss the opening Test in Perth due to injuries.

The pacer said Australia has a very clear-cut policy, which gives players the freedom to choose their games.

“Obviously, all the Test matches are given… yeah, we can play two out of those three, or three out of the five or whatever it is, I mean often if there is a Test match round the corner, you have to build up anyway. So, I think it’s possible (to play all formats) to a degree,” he said.

( With PTI Inputs )