Hazlewood admits Australia bowling must improve
Josh Hazlewood has taken his fair share of the blame for Australia's loss to West Indies and is targeting improvement.
Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood says he is eager to make amends for his performance that allowed West Indies to get off to a fast start on Monday.
Australia failed to defend their total of 265 in St. Kitts against the hosts in the fifth match of the tri-series, which also features South Africa, consigning the tourists to their second loss.
Hazlewood finished with figures of 0-46, conceding over five runs an over, and he was left to rue his side's slow start.
"I think it was disappointing the way we started with the ball," he said on Wednesday.
"We knew the West Indies were going to come hard at us chasing a decent target, so I think we were a little bit hit and miss with our line and our lengths.
"If they play a big shot off a good ball then fair enough, but we were a bit straight and a bit two sides of the wicket and they got off to a flyer and we didn't recover."
The Aussies must now move on from the disappointing display with two crunch games to come against South Africa and the Windies to round out the series, with Hazlewood and Co. currently in second spot in the standings.
But Hazlewood has hit back at suggestions he should be rested for the last two games.
"We've got a decent gap between these last two games, so we'll do everything recovery wise," he said.
"I think I'm going to be fine so it will be up to the selectors what they want to do with me … but as a fast bowler, especially with the way I bowl, I think I need rhythm all the time and I need to be playing cricket continuously to get that rhythm and feel better with my bowling."