Overview

• The Australia pacer described England’s batting as the strongest to visit during his career, calling the top seven “unbelievable” and highlighting Joe Root’s blistering form.
• He cautioned that Harry Brook’s lack of Australian red-ball history could be an advantage, saying the batter arrives with no baggage and plays with freedom.
• Brook’s long-format experience in Australia amounts to England Lions scores of 17 and 1 in 2021 and earlier red-ball games for University of NSW in 2018–19.
• Hazlewood said he intends to play at least one Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales to build workload and red-ball rhythm before the Perth opener.
• England’s quicks are shaping their lead-in, with Mark Wood targeting a county return next month to prove fitness as Jofra Archer comes back into Test contention.