With just eight days left for the much-anticipated clash to kickoff, Australia finally completed their squad by filling up the one remaining spot and adding a star pacer to their team for the upcoming India challenge. The Aussie side added world no. 15 ranked Test bowler Josh Hazlewood to the team to strengthen their pace attack.
It is worth mentioning that there were doubts about Hazlewood’s fitness over the past few days, and Cricket Australia (CA) was even considering Michael Neser and Sean Abott as his possible replacements. However, the addition of the right-arm pacer to the team has now made it clear that it will be either him or Scott Boland accompanying the lethal Aussie fast-bowling duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
Hazlewood recently featured in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) but played just three matches and was forced to fly back to Australia due to side soreness. The ailment was later followed by a few scans that showed positive results and revealed no damage.
Speaking of Hazewoold’s Test career, the 32-year-old cricketer represented his nation in 59 Test matches and scalped 222 wickets. His best figures of 6/67 in the format came came against India.
Apart from the 15-member squad, the Aussie side also have Mitchell Marsh and Matt Renshaw in their standbys for the WTC 2023 Final.
Australia squad for WTC Final:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
Standbys: Mitchell Marsh, Matt Renshaw
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