Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood was delighted after delivering a Player of the Match performance in the first One Day International (ODI) of the three-match ODI series against England at Old Trafford, Manchester on Friday (September 11).
The tourists made a brilliant comeback after the T20I series loss, as Glenn Maxwell (77) and Mitchell Marsh (73) steered Australia to 294 for nine from their 50 overs with the help of a partnership of 126 runs for the sixth wicket against England in Manchester.
In reply, England could only manage 275/9 despite Sam Billings’ 118 and Jonny Bairstow’s 84, as the fast-bowler Hazlewood shone brightest with the ball, finishing with figures of three for 26 from a full quota of 10 overs to help the side to take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series by winning the first one-dayer by 19 runs against the world champions.
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He was particularly delighted for being able to dismantle England’s top order, dismissing Jason Roy (3), Joe Root (1), and Moeen Ali (6) apart from taking a fine tumbling catch in the deep to remove Jonny Bairstow for 84 in Australia's first ODI against their arch-rivals since a crushing eight-wicket defeat in the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup at Edgbaston.
Notably, Hazlewood was controversially omitted from the 2019 World Cup squad with the selectors asking him to regain full fitness following a back injury and his Friday’s display could make his absence more painful, but the pacer has denied it by saying he always look forward.
On being asked if the way he bowled in Manchester made his World Cup absence all the more painful, Hazlewood said after being adjudged Player of The Match award: “Nah it's onwards and upwards. That's a long time ago now, so always looking forward.”
He further said of his performance: “I think it’s right up there for me. I’ve got a couple of five-fers in one-day cricket over the years but against this line-up, this top order, to bowl that well on this wicket, I was very happy with how they were coming out.”
Hazlewood signed off by saying, “England’s top order has probably been the form top order of the last three or four years so it’s a good measure of where you’re at.”
(With cricket.com.au Inputs)
