Hazlewood Expects Reverse Swing to Play Major Role in Second South Africa Test

Australia speedster Josh Hazlewood believes reverse swing can once again play a major role in the second Test against South Africa. He feels the wicket at Gqeberha will start to deteriorate as game goes on, giving bowlers plenty of opportunity to take advantage of reverse and trouble the batters.

Josh Hazlewood played an important role for Australia in winning the first Test at Durban. His six wickets in the second innings gave the visitors a huge edge in the match, as the Proteas were unable to play him while chasing a big target. He is now hoping to perform similarly in Gqeberha, where the conditions could once again prove helpful for reverse swing.

"It's probably with Australia [pitches] being the green seamers, it just doesn't get talked about at all. The ball still looks new late in the innings if it gets that far. So it's more, if you go back to SCG years ago, we definitely got reversed there every year.” said Josh Hazlewood.

"Here in South Africa, it was just an abrasive wicket, it was very hard underfoot. We probably got a hint of it in the first innings and then as the game goes, it just sort of deteriorates more and you get a bit more. So we knew it was crucial.” added Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood then talked about the conditions of the ground, saying the pitch at Gqeberha is very conventional, so it is bound to support reverse swing as the game goes on.

"The conditions sort of dictate it. If the wicket is hard, firm, deteriorating, and there's not seam movement, you're probably going to get that reverse swing just due to the basic conditions of the ground, the square and the wicket." said Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood then talked about Scott Boland, who didn’t played the first Test at Durban. He said Boland is a strong character who can come at any stage during the series, as his skills are tailor-made for the South African conditions.

"He barely bowls poorly. Every net the boys come in, it's like, geez, Scotty again. I think he'll play a part in this series [and] I think he'll play a part in the next 12, 18 months. [He's a] class act, his record ridiculous.” said Josh Hazlewood.