India’s tactics to use verbal sledges during the second cricket Test backfired and it has given Australia a psychological edge going into the crucial Boxing Day Test, feels pacer Josh Hazlewood.
India had tried to rile up Mitchell Johnson with a barrage of short balls and verbal sledges when he came down to bat with Australia at 247-6 in their first innings but the left-arm pacer hit back, making 88 from 93 balls and take the hosts to 505 in reply to India’s 408.
Johnson also chipped in with the ball, scalping four crucial wickets in the second innings to help Australia win the second Test by four wickets and take a 2-0 lead in the four-match series.
“We’re obviously 2-0 up and ... I guess it backfired on them a little bit at the Gabba with them trying to get stuck into us and Mitch (Johnson) fired back,” Hazlewood said at the MCG on Wednesday.
“It was good to see him pick up a few wickets in the second innings and really fire up and bowl fast. Hopefully he can do that again this week.
“He’s obviously the leader of the attack and it’s pretty easy to follow him when he’s going like that so it’s a privilege to bowl at the other end when he’s fit and firing,” he added.
Handed a Test debut at Brisbane, 23-year-old Hazlewood had snapped up five-wicket in the first innings and a match total of seven scalps.
However, Hazlewood said he is under no pressure to emulate the benchmark that he has set in the opening Test and Melbourne could see someone else pick up the wickets.
“I haven’t thought too much about that. Someone’s got to take five wickets and luckily it was me on debut,” he said.
“But it could be someone else’s turn this week and I’m just trying to keep bowling good overs and good spells and keep that pressure on the batting side so that’s all I can do,” he added.
Leading 2-0, Australia are in a good position and Hazlewood said they will look to crack up the Indians early when the third Test starts on Friday.
“It’s a good spot to be in (leading) 2-0 at this stage of the year,” Hazlewood said.
“If we can crack them right open here early and drive the game forward towards the 3-0 win -- that’s our goal to always win series and this is a pretty big one.”
Hazlewood also dismissed any fitness concerns surrounding him following his significant bout of cramps on the first day of the second Test.
“Obviously (I have) just the normal aches and pains but the body is feeling as good as it ever has so hopefully I can stay out on the park this week and get through another game and come out the other side,” Hazlewood said.
Meanwhile, Australia suffered another injury scare today ahead of the third Test when batsman Shaun Marsh was left wounded after being hit on the hand by a rising delivery from Hazlewood at the nets.
Marsh, who batted at No.5 in the second Test, was immediately led away by the team doctor Peter Brukner to the dressing room. The impact left a red mark on his left hand.
He returned after a few minutes and joined the team at the training session and faced throw-downs from batting coach Michael di Venuto.
Australia faced a lot of fitness issues during the test series as their key players such as David Warner, Shane Watson, Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc -- all faced some injury scare in the last two weeks.
