Australia’s next assignment in the WTC cycle takes them to South Africa in October, starting with the first Test in Durban from October 9, before the series moves to Gqeberha and concludes in Cape Town. The three Tests will be preceded by as many ODIs against the Proteas.
Australia will then host New Zealand for a four-Test series across December and January, before their WTC campaign builds to a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy assignment in India between January and March 2027, which will be their final series of the cycle, and one expected to go a long way toward deciding their chances of making a third successive WTC final.
With a packed stretch of international cricket ahead, Hazlewood is also optimistic with where he stands from fitness perspective.
“I’m very pleased with where I’m at physically. (I’ve) done a lot of work, probably the 10 weeks leading into that series; it was probably our last big training block before what’s to come. Very pleased to come out the other side pretty much unscathed.”
Asked about balancing his workload through the upcoming schedule, which also includes two ODI series, Hazlewood said he is focusing on getting as much time as possible on the field.
“I think still the best way forward for me is to play as much as I can (within) reason.”
“We’ve got two ODI series before that Test match series, so it might be playing two out of three in both of those. I think once you’re at that intensity, which we’re all at now, it’s about trying to maintain that as best we can.”
