Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood is optimistic about their chances in the ongoing Ashes series against England after the first day of the first Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday. Hazlewood expressed his satisfaction as Australia took eight wickets for under 400 runs. He claimed two wickets on Day 1 alongside Nathan Lyon, who took four wickets.
Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow led a spirited response for England, scoring at a brisk pace to help the hosts declare their first innings at 393/8 runs. Hazlewood, who had missed the World Test Championship final against India due to injury, has made a successful comeback into the side.
We’ve got to start to look at things differently, not so much at strike-rates and economies and things like that. It’s just about wickets and the score. We’ve taken eight for just under 400 and you’d take that on this wicket, whether it takes 80 overs or 160. It’s the same score, Hazlewood said.
England’s declared innings was powered by a century from Root, who finished on 118 not out, and fifties from Bairstow and Zak Crawley. Lyon was the standout bowler for Australia with four wickets, while Hazlewood, Scott Boland, and Cameron Green picked up two, one, and one wicket, respectively.
At the end of Day 1, Australia was at 14/0, with David Warner and Usman Khawaja at the crease. The match continues with the second day of play on August 5.
