Australia’s pace ace Josh Hazlewood has made a bold decision ahead of a busy cricketing season. The experienced fast bowler has opted to skip a few T20 internationals in the upcoming five-match series against India to focus on his red-ball preparation for the highly anticipated Ashes 2025-26 at home.
Josh Hazlewood has been named in Australia’s squad for the three ODIs and the first two T20Is against India. After completing his national commitments, he will head back to his domestic side, New South Wales, to get some valuable red-ball match practice in the Sheffield Shield.
Choosing Sheffield Shield Over T20Is
The New South Wales team will take on Victoria in a key Sheffield Shield game starting November 10 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. This match will serve as Hazlewood’s warm-up ahead of the first Ashes Test against England, set to begin on November 21 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
Josh Hazlewood will miss the final three T20Is against India, with the second T20I scheduled for October 31 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The timing allows him to rest, recover, and get enough red-ball rhythm before the all-important Ashes series.
“You Can’t Have Everything”: Josh Hazlewood
Speaking at a Cricket Australia event with Woolworths, Josh Hazlewood shared his thoughts on the decision. He said, “We’ve definitely had chats about fitting in a Shield game. I do think it’s important when there’s time for it. You don’t want to squeeze things in or rush for it.
This year I’m going to miss a couple of T20s to do that. Which I certainly don’t like doing, missing games for Australia. But in the long run it is about getting the best prep for the Ashes as well. You can’t have everything, and that’s the trade-off at the moment.”
A Smart Plan to Balance Formats
Hazlewood’s move is part of a carefully planned approach to balance his workload and ensure top form for both white-ball and red-ball formats. While he remains committed to the T20 game, especially with the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, his focus right now is firmly on getting his red-ball rhythm right for the Ashes.
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The Australian quick added, “That’s why I put my hand up for as many tours as I can. Even if I only play two out of three on a tour, it just means I am still touching base with those formats. My game doesn’t change too much. I have been around long enough to duck and dive in each format and chop and change.”
Huge Response for India-Australia Series
Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the India-Australia clashes, with ticket sales reflecting the excitement. Over 175,000 tickets have already been sold for the eight-match white-ball series. The T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 31 sold out more than three weeks in advance.
Public tickets for the Sydney and Manuka Oval games are already gone, while the Adelaide ODI and Gabba T20I are nearly sold out, each with fewer than 5,000 tickets remaining. The MCG encounter joins the season’s sell-out list alongside 12 Ashes matchdays. AFL member tickets for the Melbourne game went on sale Monday, with MCC member tickets available Tuesday.
As Josh Hazlewood gears up for a busy summer, his smart preparation and clear priorities show just how determined he is to deliver another strong performance in the iconic Ashes series.
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