Recast Hazlewood content with continuing Test absence

In the unusual position of entering a tour as a white-ball specialist, Josh Hazlewood insists he will be content with carrying the drinks for a second consecutive Test series.

Hazlewood admits he is in unfamiliar territory ahead of Australia's all-format campaign in Sri Lanka where the fast bowler, who has taken over 200 Test wickets at 26, is a first-choice pick for the T20 and ODI series, but not necessarily the two Tests that conclude the trip.

With Cummins and lead spinner Adam Zampa absent from the T20 leg of the tour that begins Tuesday with two games in as many days at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will lead the Australian attack.

Hazlewood underlined his evolved short-form credentials with a strong Indian Premier League campaign where he finished as the equal third most prolific wicket-taking paceman with 20 scalps at 19.

The 31-year-old stressed he had no issues with making way for an extra spinner in Australia's recent 1-0 Test series win in Pakistan.

Image Id: 320217A3282C478C852A707A22FDDF03 Image Caption: Hazlewood trains at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday ahead of the T20I series against Sri Lanka // Clancy Sinnamon-cricket.com.au

"I was fine with it. Obviously, the conditions dictate the bowling line-up in the subcontinent and, after playing on that first (Test) wicket, I was pretty happy to just sit on the sidelines for the next two," Hazlewood said with a smile.

Hazlewood, who missed all but one of last summer's Ashes Tests due to injury, is realistic about his immediate prospects in the format previously considered his strongest.

There is an expectation that conditions will be even more spin-friendly than Pakistan for the two-Test series in Galle that begins on June 29.

With the emergence of Cameron Green as a legitimate allrounder, Australia may consider playing a solitary specialist quick.

Test captain Pat Cummins is a certainty while Mitchell Starc's variety as a left-armer, his extra pace and strong reverse-swing skills make him a threat in the subcontinent. He also had a record-breaking series the last time he played in Sri Lanka in 2016, snaring 24 victims at 15.

"We're lucky to have Cam Green there to cover a lot of bases and obviously you need airspeed on those wickets to have an impact," Hazlewood said from Colombo on Sunday.

"We obviously know the three of us (Cummins, Starc and himself) are going to play in most conditions and it's probably me who's a bit slower on airspeed who drops out on spinning wickets.

"We even could go one less quick in Sri Lanka with what we could get. We know we all play a role and we're better in different conditions than others at certain times.

"But I think just that blend of all three of us (being) a little bit different really helps throughout a Test match and throughout a Test series."

Overlooked for Australia's 2019 ODI World Cup squad, Hazlewood believes the genesis of his vastly improved T20 prowess came later that year when he had an extended run of matches in BBL|09, helping the Sydney Sixers to the title.

The right-armer had nonetheless still appeared a fringe candidate for a bowling spot at last year's T20 World Cup before playing a starring role at the 2021 IPL with champions Chennai Super Kings.

The development of his knuckle ball was a key factor in transforming himself from a bowler whose metronomic consistency had previously been viewed as a weakness in some quarters.

"It's a strange one I guess," said Hazlewood. "I've missed a fair bit of red-ball cricket through selection and injury, so I guess it's a little disappointing in that regard.

"The white-ball, and T20 stuff, has gone from strength to strength.

"It was maybe two or three seasons ago now, I played the last couple of games (for the Sixers in 2019-20) and then we ended up winning the semi and the final against the Stars.

"It was probably that period where I made a conscious effort to get back into T20 cricket. It was so hard before logistically with tours overlapping other tours and you had to pick and choose what you wanted to play for Australia.

"I just took that opportunity to play the Big Bash and that just led to playing for Chennai for a couple of years. I just ended up playing more and more games as time went on, getting more exposure to it and getting a bit more consistency in it.

"And then here we are."

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade

June 7: First T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST

June 8: Second T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST

June 11: Third T20, Kandy, 11.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka ODI squad (provisional): Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Squad: Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Pete Handscomb, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

June 8: First one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo

June 10: Second one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo

June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota

June 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota