India- Australia Series
Josh Hazlewood Won't Mind Playing the First Test with Red Ball
|| India Correspondent ||
Two of the best teams in the world cricket – India and Australia are all set to face each other in an entire series, including the limited-overs as well as in the longer format as well. While the first Test in Adelaide was slated to be played with a pink ball, the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in South Australia put on a question mark about the venue and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood hinted that the opening Test against India can be a red-ball contest in Brisbane too.
"The longer we wait, the hotter it gets up there, so the quicks would all be happy to get that game done in December," Hazlewood was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. "We obviously have a really good record up there (Brisbane) and it's a great place to start."
However, Adelaide is scheduled to host the first Test between India and Australia which will be a day-night affair from December 17. Meanwhile, the Australia team is scheduled to reach Adelaide on December 9 after the conclusion of the limited-overs series against the visiting team – the Team India.
However, Cricket Australia hasn’t commented yet and they are hoping to host the opening Test at Adelaide. On the other hand, the 29-year-old pace bowler also said that the pink ball wouldn’t be used anywhere apart from Adelaide.
"He (curator Damian Hough) has got the wicket perfect at Adelaide for a pink-ball Test," Hazlewood said. "A few grounds around Australia are too abrasive or too hard, such as the Gabba or Perth. Those wickets are too hard for a pink ball, it goes quite soft after a certain amount of time.”
"Could be red ball (first Test in) Melbourne or Brisbane or somewhere, then we head back to Adelaide later on in the summer. "From all reports (gathered), we are still good for Adelaide but it can always change .. hopefully they can get on top of it in the next week or two,” he concluded.