‘Sensed it was coming’: Josh Hazlewood not surprised with England’s bazball approach and early declaration – Ashes 2023, 1st Test

The much-awaited and one of the crucial intense Check battles obtained underway at Edgbaston on Friday (June 16), with England and Australia locking horns with one another within the first Check of the Ashes 2023. The Day 1 of the match noticed England choosing the bazball strategy and declaring their innings on a rating of 393/8. Joe Root top-scored for his team with an unbeaten 118 off 152 deliveries.

Notably, England scored at a run fee of 5 runs per over and made the Australian bowlers toil onerous all through the day. Whereas the bazball mode of play by England and their early declaration regardless of Root on the crease left everybody shocked, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood revealed that he wasn’t stunned by the English crew’s name.

Talking within the post-match press convention after the stumps of Day 1, Hazlewood who obtained Australia their first breakthrough by dismissing Ben Duckett, mentioned that he sensed England’s declaration coming and termed the pitch very sluggish for the bowlers. He even said that they performed fairly nicely, and the strokeplay of England didn’t appear outrageous to him.

“As soon as Joe obtained his hundred they performed just a few photographs, sensed it was coming. That’s the way in which they’re enjoying their cricket in the intervening time. First day was in all probability as I anticipated to be sincere just about. The wicket was, not an excellent deal in it, very, very sluggish. Not a lot sideways motion or swing. 390 and we’re none-for, so fairly even I’d say,” mentioned Hazlewood.

“Suppose it’s important to take a look at the tip rating, so 8 for beneath 400 or mainly all out for 400. You’d take that on that wicket for certain. Whether or not it takes 80 overs or 160, it’s the identical rating. We’ve got to begin to take a look at issues a bit otherwise, I suppose, not a lot strike-rates and financial system and issues like that. It’s nearly wickets and the rating and if we are able to maintain it so simple as that suppose it should go a good distance in the direction of wrapping our head across the new Ashes. Thought we held our weapons fairly nicely. It wasn’t outrageous strokeplay,” he added.