Overview

• Josh Hazlewood left the World Test Championship preparation to rejoin Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the IPL was briefly suspended over India-Pakistan tensions.
• Hazlewood managed just two wickets as Australia lost the Lord’s final to South Africa by five wickets inside four days.
• Johnson wrote that prioritising franchise cricket compromised Hazlewood’s Test performance and called into question the commitment of senior bowlers.
• He warned that none of the established ‘big four’—Mitchell Starc, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon—should assume automatic selection going forward.
• Johnson recommended giving opportunities to fringe players such as Sam Konstas, Josh Inglis and Scott Boland during the upcoming three-Test West Indies tour.