Josh Hazlewood Anticipates a Balanced Pitch for Cricket World Cup Final Against India
Josh Hazlewood Anticipates a Balanced Pitch for Cricket World Cup Final Against India
Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood is looking forward to a good, balanced pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium for the upcoming Cricket World Cup final against India. His optimism is based on his experience in previous matches, including Australia’s semi-final win over South Africa and a group-stage game against England at the same venue.
Key Insights from Hazlewood
- Variety in Indian Pitches: Hazlewood highlighted the diversity of pitch conditions across India, noting the need for players to adapt their techniques accordingly.
- Previous Performance in Ahmedabad: Recalling Australia’s match against England at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he described the pitch as good and not entirely flat, expecting a similar playing surface for the final.
- Australia’s Strategy: Acknowledging India’s strong performance across all areas, Hazlewood believes his team can still find and exploit potential weaknesses, as they did in their previous encounter with India in Chennai.
Australia’s Journey to the Final
- Turnaround in Form: After a comfortable defeat against India in the group stage, Australia has since made a remarkable comeback, winning eight consecutive matches to secure their place in the final.
- Key Contributions: Hazlewood’s crucial role in the semi-final against South Africa, where he helped restrict the opposition to a modest total, underlines his importance to the Australian squad.
The upcoming final between India and Australia is set to be a highly anticipated clash, with both teams showcasing strong form throughout the tournament. Hazlewood’s comments reflect the importance of understanding and adapting to pitch conditions, which could play a significant role in determining the outcome of this crucial match.