I don’t get why Josh Hazlewood is playing in the IPL rather than getting ready for the Australian Test matches: Steven Clarke

Josh Hazlewood, an Australian bowler, had a spectacular comeback in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Due to an injury, the 32-year-old missed the opening stages of the competition. Upon his return to the lucrative league, his outstanding ball-handling displays also did so.

In the 43rd game of the IPL 2023, Josh Hazlewood faced off against the KL Rahul-coached Lucknow Super Giants. He dismissed Ayush Badoni and Naveen-ul-Haq during his three overs of bowling against Lucknow, which cost him just 15 runs.

When Michael Clarke, a former Australian captain, saw that the pacer had returned to the IPL, he approached the stage and questioned why he hadn’t been focusing on getting ready for the impending World Test Championship final and the Ashes series.

I’m not sure why he keeps bringing up the IPL. I’m not sure why he isn’t here in Australia getting ready for a cricket test match. According to Fox Sports, Michael Clarke was reported as stating, “I know they’ll have people over there, in the nets, and he’ll be bowling more than what the IPL players are bowling, in preparation for Test match cricket.”

For this Ashes series, you want to see him at his peak: Michael Clarke
Regarding the same, Clarke added that, given the pacer’s recent string of injuries, bowling three to four overs in the IPL might not be the best preparation for Hazlewood for red-ball cricket. It should be mentioned that the 32-year-old is one of Australia’s five pacers in the 17-person team that will travel to England for the WTC final and the Ashes series.

“After the injuries he’s had and the amount of time he’s spent away from Test cricket, I just don’t know if him bowling three or four overs right now is his greatest preparation for an Ashes series. There’s no denying that it’s nice to have him back in action, but Australian Test cricket fans want to see him at his best for the upcoming Ashes series, Clarke said.