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‘Lagta h 100 test khelne pe khtra h’- Fans shocked as Josh Hazelwood replaces Mitchel Starc in first test of Ashes 2023

Mitchel Starc and Josh Hazelwood

The Ashes 2023

‘Lagta h 100 test khelne pe khtra h’- Fans shocked as Josh Hazelwood replaces Mitchel Starc in first test of Ashes 2023

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Australia’s selection for the first Ashes test against England at Edgbaston has been confirmed, with Pat Cummins making a significant decision in the bowling department. Josh Hazelwood is replacing Mitchel Starc. The Australians come to Edgbaston wanting to win this five-match series on enemy soil for the first time since 2001, and they are in high form after defeating India last week to win the World Test Championship.

While most of his team is set, Cummins has agonized over his bowling lineup. Josh Hazlewood’s return from injury gives the skipper pause after Scott Boland’s brilliant performance against India.

‘One change, Mitch Starc out, Hazlewood comes in’: Pat Cummins

‘We’d have batted as well. One change, Mitch Starc out, Hazlewood comes in. Tough call, Starc was really good last game but good to have someone like Hazlewood come in.’

‘Tough to manage the workloads, we’ll assess things week by week, but that is a good problem to have. Good preparation to win the WTC final, we went into that fresh, we feel well suited and we are now eager to go. England will come at us, but that’s okay…’

Boland has not previously been selected in a full-strength Australian attack, having played all seven of his prior Tests while Hazlewood was sidelined.

However, his remarkable start to his career has rendered him nearly unstoppable, with 33 wickets at an average of 14.57. Josh Hazlewood has only played four Tests in the last two years due to a series of side strain ailments and an Achilles injury. His command in England, though, and the prospect of a fresh body who did not play in last week’s World Test Championship triumph over India at The Oval, would have enticed selectors.

While Australia values Starc’s wicket-taking edge, he has now been left out of an attack while healthy for the first time since the 2019 Ashes.  England will benefit from Starc’s absence, since the fast bowler dismissed Rory Burns with the opening delivery of the 2021-2022 series in Australia, which the Aussies easily won 4-0.

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