Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri has expressed his belief that Josh Hazlewood should be selected over Scott Boland for Australia’s pace attack in the upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa at Lord’s in June 2025. Shastri, speaking on “The ICC Review,” highlighted Hazlewood’s ability to utilize English conditions effectively, drawing comparisons to the legendary Glenn McGrath.
Shastri emphasized that Hazlewood’s height and precision make him well-suited for the slope at Lord’s, which McGrath famously exploited during his career. McGrath’s record at Lord’s includes 26 wickets in three Tests, with a standout performance of 8/38 in 1997. Shastri believes Hazlewood can replicate McGrath’s success, especially given the slower pitches in England compared to Australia.
While Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are expected to lead Australia’s pace attack, the choice for the third seamer is likely between Hazlewood and Boland. Hazlewood, who has returned to competitive cricket through the IPL after recovering from injuries, has shown promising form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. On the other hand, Boland has been a consistent performer for Australia, including a key role in their victory over India in the previous WTC cycle.
Shastri acknowledged Boland’s contributions but argued that Hazlewood’s attributes make him the better choice for the conditions at Lord’s. He also suggested that Australia might consider fielding an all-pace attack if the pitch offers more grass.
The WTC Final, scheduled from June 11 to 15, will see defending champions Australia face South Africa in a highly anticipated clash.
