Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood played a major role in the team’s dominant win over India in the first ODI of the three-match series. On a spicy wicket at Perth’s Optus Stadium, Hazlewood combined with fellow pacer Mitchell Starc to dismantle India’s top order and hand the Shubman Gill-led side a crushing defeat.
Hazlewood picked up the crucial wickets of Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, two of the most reliable batsmen in the Indian line-up. After his match-winning performance, Hazlewood called for a similar pitch to be in place for the upcoming Ashes series, which is set to begin in November.
“Perth always offer some nice bounce and pace, which has served us well in the past, especially with our bowlers who all offer something different,” Hazlewood said after the match, according to The Age .
IND vs AUS 1st ODI: Highlights | Scorecard
The pitch at Optus Stadium offered a steep and testing bounce that proved highly effective for Australia’s tall fast bowlers. In a stop-start match, India struggled to gain any momentum after Starc, Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis reduced them to just 25 for 3 in the first 10 overs.
“It was a nice start. (My) rhythm felt good in New Zealand. Everything is fine at the moment, nice way to start building (towards the Ashes),” Hazlewood added as he reflected on his performance.
Australia are currently in the early stages of preparations for the Ashes, their marquee Test series against arch-rivals England. The five-match competition is set to be one of the highlights of the international cricket calendar. However, the team is expected to be without their captain Pat Cummins for at least the series opener as he continues to recover from a lower back injury.
Commenting on Cummins’ injury, Hazlewood acknowledged that fast bowling takes time. He noted that most pitchers deal with some level of discomfort during long seasons and that managing those ailments becomes part of the job.
“Every fast bowler has a thing or two and after a while it just becomes part of your routine,” he said. Hazlewood also spoke confidently about his own fitness and expressed his desire to play the entire Ashes series.
“My body feels great now. I am very confident that I will pass all five (tests) without any dramas,” he concluded.
The Ashes are set to begin on November 21, with the first Test scheduled to be played in Perth – a venue Hazlewood would clearly not mind returning to given his recent success.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 20, 2025
