Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has set his sights on winning Test series in South Africa, India and England as the team prepares for a busy schedule over the next 12 months.Australia are scheduled to play at least 20 Tests during this period, including away series in South Africa, India and the Ashes in England. Hazlewood, 35, has played 76 Tests but has never been part of an Australian team that won a Test series in India or England. Australia last won an away Ashes series in 2001, while their last Test series win in India came in 2004.“This group’s been together for quite a long time now, the majority of it, anyway,” Hazlewood said, as quoted by Cricbuzz. “The big series are obviously England and India. I haven’t won in South Africa either, so there’s three that are coming up that are a few boxes to tick off there for not just me but from this whole playing group.”“I guess that’s been a driving factor during this prep, sort of in the back of your head, and even the months leading into it. Some real big Test series, and they’re all away, obviously those big ones. Tough competition, and hopefully we get the job done.”Hazlewood is also hoping to return to the Test side after missing the Ashes last summer because of hamstring and Achilles injuries. If selected, it will be his first Test in 13 months, the longest gap of his career between Test appearances.He could compete with Scott Boland for the third fast bowler’s place in the playing XI. Chief selector George Bailey has previously indicated that Boland has closed the gap in the race for selection.Hazlewood said he would like to play more Tests alongside Boland, who has often missed out whenever Australia’s three first-choice fast bowlers have all been available.“I think [Boland and I have] only played one game together – at Edgbaston [in the 2023 Ashes] – and I’d love to play more with Scotty,” Hazlewood said. “We’re obviously a little bit similar, but I think there’s still a lot of differences in our bowling.”Australia will begin their two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13.
