How good is the Australia T20I bowling attack?

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Australia great Shane Watson admits the evolution of Josh Hazlewood as a T20 bowler has caught him by surprise, but believes the right-armer should now be considered Australia's best T20 fast bowler.

While Hazlewood made his T20 debut for his country way back in 2013, he was overlooked for a spot in Australia's 20-over side for four years as the 31-year-old was pigeonholed as a Test and one-day bowler.

But consecutive successful IPL campaigns with Chennai Super Kings in 2021 and Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022, sandwiched by an ultra-consistent T20 World Cup for Australia last year has seen Hazelwood's T20 bowling stocks continue to rise.

"It has been amazing to see Josh Hazlewood’s evolution as a T20 bowler," Watson told Isa Guha on the latest episode of The ICC Review.

"I always thought he was just a Test and one-day bowler because he didn’t have that many defensive options in T20 cricket, but he has developed tremendously over the past couple of years.

"It was a huge opportunity for him to play for CSK (Chennai Super Kings) and they gave him a really good run and let him find his feet in that previous IPL heading into the T20 World Cup.

"And right now he is Australia's best T20 fast bowler, there is no question."

Australia out to build T20 momentum in Sri Lanka
Watson expects Hazlewood to play a major role in Australia's T20 World Cup defence on home soil later this year.

"Josh shows that you don’t really have to be able to do something truly different to be a really good T20 bowler," Watson said.

"If you are great at really executing your yorkers, your change of pace, but also then your stock ball is at the top of the stumps at good pace, then you can be very effective.

"He has shown that he has been one of the world’s best over the last couple of years...he is going to be very important for Australia’s defence of the T20 World Cup."

Watson said Hazlewood can form a formidable fast-bowling partnership with left-armer Mitchell Starc and Test skipper Pat Cummins at the T20 World Cup. He also backed Cummins to perform well in Australian conditions despite his form at the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders.

"The Australian conditions will suit him more than in India because the wickets there are a little bit slower, so his length the ball does sit up a little bit more," Watson noted.

"Whereas in Australia that back of a length does skip through more, so he is going to be more effective in Australia.

"To be able to play any World Cup at home you are going to be jumping out of your skin to play, so I am sure he will be one of Australia's best bowlers during that tournament."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2640410

 

[Nikhil_cric]

They will be brilliant in Australia. The dimensions of Australian grounds, the relatively reduced impact of dew/night conditions etc. will aid them.

 

[sweep_shot]

They were superb during the last World T20.

They have a bowling attack that can thrive in all 3 formats.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

It's probably the best pace attack in the world now that Hazelwood has improved so much as a T20 bowler. But their spin attack is simply not good. Luckily for them the next World Cup is in Australia and they can get away with playing a single spinner too. They should go into this tournament as favorites. And honestly I would be surprised if they don't do a repeat and lift the trophy again.

 

[Moeey]

The way hazlewood is bowling, they wre the best. He bowls excellent test match lengths. Why don't more players do this? Nit saying it's easy but I am surprised guys like Cummins bumrah rabada don't use these lengths often.

 

[sweep_shot]

It's probably the best pace attack in the world now that Hazelwood has improved so much as a T20 bowler. But their spin attack is simply not good. Luckily for them the next World Cup is in Australia and they can get away with playing a single spinner too. They should go into this tournament as favorites. And honestly I would be surprised if they don't do a repeat and lift the trophy again.

Their spin attack isn't too bad.

Zampa is a decent LOI spinner. Agar can do the job.

In Test, Lyon is pretty good.

 

[Titan24]

They are really impressive without a doubt. One thing which you always associate with Aussies bowlers is that they are going to ball with the plans and to their fields more often then not, add to it the skills which their current attack carriers it becomes a difficult attack to consistently do well against.

Spin bowling is decent too however, with not much backup as they have in pace bowling department.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Their spin attack isn't too bad.

Zampa is a decent LOI spinner. Agar can do the job.

In Test, Lyon is pretty good.

I completely forgot about Zampa. As the lone spinner he's quite good.

I stand corrected, they definitely have the best T20I bowling attack going around.