Veteran speedster Josh Hazlewood is set to return to Test cricket after nearly 13 months on the sidelines, and he is near a major personal milestone, needing just five more wickets to reach 300 Test wickets. Only five Australian fast bowlers have achieved the milestone, but Hazlewood said that his focus remains firmly on greater glories with Australia’s Test side.

“This group’s been together for quite a long time now – the majority of it, anyway – and the big series are obviously England and India,” Hazlewood said to cricket.com.au. “I haven’t won in South Africa either, so there’s three that are coming up … a few boxes to tick off there (for) not just me, (but) this whole playing group.”

However, Hazlewood last featured in a Test against the West Indies in July 2025 before a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Ashes as well. An Achilles problem later delayed his return again, extending his absence from the longest format.

“This is probably the first time we’ve actually had a lead-in to a Test without any cricket in terms of games,” he said. “Leading into other Test series and Test matches, you’re playing T20, you’re playing one-dayers, you’re travelling, so it’s tough to fit those bowling sessions in. This has been tailor-made for a Test match, which should work out well.”

However, Australia’s celebrated bowling attack, often referred to as the ‘Big Four’ of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, has enjoyed plenty of success together. However, they are still chasing a maiden away Test series victory together in South Africa, India and England, giving them added motivation heading into the busy schedule as well.

“That’s been a driving factor during this prep, in the back of your head, and even (in) the months leading into it,” Hazlewood said. “(They’re) some real big Test series, and they’re all away, so (it’s) tough competition and hopefully we get the job done.”