The veteran Australian quick, who averaged 13.6 with the ball last year, took match figures of 2-85 in the WTC final after building his workloads up during training while at the IPL.
“I haven’t seen any of that, to be honest,” Hazlewood told this masthead when asked about Johnson’s column ahead of Australia’s opening Test against the West Indies on Wednesday. “We know what’s going on in inside our rooms. It seemed far and away the best place to get ready for any type of cricket that was coming up. The weather was definitely a factor as well. Just getting over there and playing intense competition like that, it’s hard to replicate in training.
Josh Hazlewood bowling during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last summer. Credit: AAP
“Sydney it was raining and I had literally nowhere to bowl. I got to Brisbane for three or four days and it was very wet. We were lucky to get on. I just thought the best place to bowl was India. We were still in the competition, we were going to play semis, and I was going to be there for 10 days.
“I think it was comfortably the best option.”
Hazlewood believes he’s bowling as well as he has in his career across all three formats.
“I mean, if you look at the numbers, it probably suggest so as well,” Hazlewood said. “I feel quite relaxed at the moment about my cricket. The ball is coming out nicely in all the formats. I feel like I’m adjusting and hitting good lengths.
Lyon, Australia’s most successful off-spinner, went wicketless at Lord’s but has no intention of slowing down. He refuted suggestions stalwarts in the team were hanging on for a send-off on their own terms.
“Regarding ‘Johnno’, there’s nothing really to be said there,” Lyon said.
“We never take any of our positions for granted. There’s that much competition within the squad … and guys putting the senior players under pressure.
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“There’s no-one planning a farewell tour or anything like that. I don’t see there’s a reason why the guys can’t keep going for a number of years. They’re only doing that for the betterment of Australian cricket. We want to play in games, we want to win games.
“That [loss to South Africa] does still sting a fair bit to be honest with you.
“We’re really proud of the last two years that we’ve had to reach the final. Everyone says how hard finals are to reach, but we got outplayed. And that’s a disappointing part of it. A tough pill to swallow.”
