Josh Hazlewood T20 World Cup arrangements are smashed when Australia stated it has eliminated the fast bowler out of the contest only days prior to their debut match, another significant setback after an already troubled build-up. As injuries continue to pile up, and questions swirl about the squad balance, Australia go into the world event without one of their most reliable big match players, and selectors are taking time to grant someone their place, as they determine their options.

There could hardly be a worse time. Australia are scheduled to commence the batting of T20 world cup in Ireland in five days but Hazlewood has not reacted promptly to surgery. Cricket Australia assured that his failure to recover in time to play again in the tournament was the reason there had been optimism but medical advice indicated further pushing on him might greatly expose him to a more severe setback. Consequently, the ruling was made to exclude him completely, which was in favour of long-term fitness and not short-term benefit.

First, one thinks of the magnitude of the loss when taking a look at the recent shape of Hazlewood. The seasoned tall quick had had an excellent IPL season where he was central to Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning the IPL and then transferred the same spirit onto foreign cricket. In three series of T20Is against South Africa, New Zealand and India, Hazlewood took 12 wickets at an average of 16.58, with a relatively low conversion of only 7.37 over. What was even more conservative was his figures in powerplay when he got eight wickets with an economy of 6.72 and continued to make the statement in the opening quarters of innings on several occasions.

Those numbers are the reason why expectations of the Josh Hazlewood T20 World Cup were so high. His spells against South Africa in Darwin and India in Melbourne where he got the statistics of 3 to 27 and 3 to 13 respectively illustrated his capability to dominate top-order batters with bounce, accuracy and subtle movement. Hazlewood had become the foundation of plans in Australia in a format where first mover advantage means everything.

But accidents have followed incessantly to mar his summer. He had suffered hamstring strain during bowling in the last Sheffield Shield game before the Ashes left him in the first place and later Achilles problems made it difficult to recover during the Test series. As Hazlewood even brimmed at the beginning of the year, informing the media in January that all was going well, it was acknowledged that his body could not react in good time to participate in the tournament.

Selection panel team in Australia, which was headed by Tony Dodemaide, admitted the frustration yet justified the conservative approach. Dodemaide said that even though the team had expressed hopes that Hazlewood could be fit to play by the Super 8 stage, medical examinations had shown that he was still a long way to go in regards to playing fitness. He might have risked too much to have done so. Therefore, the Australian have not chosen to appoint a replacement immediately, rather they are flexible in their approach because the tournament is still in progress.

But this delay does not imply that Australia are not in reserve. Sean Abbott has been in the group of the Pakistani players as a reserve and he can be viewed as a probable replacement should the selectors, however, choose to introduce an official change. By not giving an official replacement, Australia keeps open the chance of getting their decision adjusted to circumstances, shape and strategic requirements at the group stage.

Hazelwood also follows the lead of captain Pat Cummins, which worsens the situation of Australia. The absences, combined with those, are the first instance since the 2009 Champions Trophy that Australia have not featured at least one of Joshua Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steven Smith or David Warner in the squad for an ICC tournament. The statistic by itself shows the amount of transition that now the team faces.

In the meantime, there are still other injury issues looming. There is some good news since Adam Zampa, who complained that his groin area is tight during the last T20I against Pakistan, has been cleared to play the starting match. Nurse Tim David as well as Nathan Ellis is also regarded to be on target to the group stage but each of them did not appear in the warm-up match which was cancelled due to rain in Colombo. At that time, Australia could only nominate 11 full fit players which is a good example of how lean resources have become.

Lastly, the larger issue is how Australia would cope without that control and experience of Hazlewood. The fact that he is not there subjects a bowling unit to an extra responsibility that it has to go out there and bond as a team in a short period of time. Whereas Australia are certainly assured of being covered in the early part of the game, the field of error has definitely been reduced.

With the tournament being close, Josh Hazlewood T20 world cup news will change to not being there, to being expected there. In the case of Australia, it is now obvious: to come out on top of adversity, maintain fitness and make sure the loss of a proven match-winner does not vampirilize their pursuit of world dominance.

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