Hazlewood’s Plan to Play All Three Formats Successfully

In an era where player burnout and injury breaks dominate cricket headlines, Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood is offering a hopeful counter-narrative: playing all three formats is still possible—but only with a meticulously crafted plan. Speaking ahead of the Ashes 2025, the 34-year-old pace veteran shared his personal blueprint for longevity, emphasizing discipline, selective participation, and honest dialogue with team management as the pillars of sustainable multi-format cricket .

While many modern stars—like Pat Cummins, Kagiso Rabada, and even Jasprit Bumrah—regularly rotate in and out of squads to preserve fitness, Hazlewood stands out as one of the few frontline quicks still actively competing across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. His secret? “It’s not about saying yes to everything. It’s about saying yes to the right things—at the right time,” he explains .

Table of Contents

• Josh Hazlewood All Three Formats: The Philosophy
• The Hazlewood Workload Management Playbook
• Why Most Players Struggle with Multi-Format Cricket
• Real-World Examples: Who Else Does It Well?
• What This Means for Young Cricketers
• Summary
• Sources

Josh Hazlewood All Three Formats: The Philosophy

Hazlewood rejects the notion that the modern calendar inherently forces players to specialize. “The calendar is demanding, yes—but it’s also flexible if you advocate for yourself,” he says. His approach centers on three core principles:

1. Selective Series Participation: Prioritize marquee events (Ashes, World Cups) and skip lower-stakes bilateral series when recovery is needed.
2. Transparent Communication: Maintain open, honest conversations with coaches and medical staff about physical and mental readiness.
3. Off-Field Discipline: Prioritize sleep, nutrition, and recovery protocols like cryotherapy and physio—“The work happens when the cameras are off,” he notes .

This mindset has allowed him to remain a key asset across formats. In 2024 alone, he played 8 Tests, 12 ODIs, and 10 T20Is—racking up 67 international wickets while maintaining an economy rate under 2.90 in all three formats .

The Hazlewood Workload Management Playbook

Unlike many peers who withdraw entirely from white-ball cricket to focus on Tests (or vice versa), Hazlewood uses a “phased availability” model:

His Annual Cycle (Simplified)

• January–March: Focus on white-ball cricket (ODIs/T20Is); limit bowling loads in nets.
• April–May: Extended recovery + skill refinement; skip minor tours.
• June–August: Full Test mode (e.g., Ashes); peak physical conditioning.
• September–December: T20 leagues (if selected) + limited ODI duty; prioritize rest before major events.

“I don’t count matches—I count intensity,” Hazlewood clarifies. “A high-pressure Ashes Test is worth three T20s in terms of physical toll. You budget accordingly.”

Why Most Players Struggle with Multi-Format Cricket

The average international cricketer now plays 100+ days of cricket annually—a 40% increase from the early 2000s . Without a structured plan, this leads to:

• Chronic fatigue: Accumulated micro-trauma in shoulders, backs, and knees.
• Diminished performance: Reduced pace, slower reaction times, poor decision-making.
• Mental burnout: Loss of passion, increased injury anxiety, early retirement.

Hazlewood believes the solution isn’t fewer formats—but smarter scheduling. “Cricket boards need to stop treating players like machines. And players need to stop pretending they’re invincible,” he says bluntly .

Real-World Examples: Who Else Does It Well?

While rare, Hazlewood isn’t alone. A few elite players have managed multi-format success with similar strategies:

• Kane Williamson (NZ): Skips T20Is regularly but excels in Tests and ODIs through careful load management.
• Shaheen Afridi (PAK): Uses targeted rest windows between formats; prioritizes ICC events.
• Ben Stokes (ENG): Reduced T20I workload post-2022 to focus on Tests and ODIs—still appears in all three, but selectively.

What they share is agency: they negotiate their availability rather than passively accept every assignment.

What This Means for Young Cricketers

For emerging talents dreaming of representing their country across formats, Hazlewood’s message is clear: “Start building your recovery routine now—not after your first injury.” He advises young fast bowlers to:

1. Track bowling loads religiously (use apps or diaries).
2. Develop a trusted support team (physio, strength coach, nutritionist).
3. Learn to say “no” respectfully—but firmly—when overcommitted.

“Longevity isn’t luck. It’s logistics,” he sums up.

For more on sustainable careers in modern cricket, explore our guide on [INTERNAL_LINK:how-cricketers-avoid-burnout-in-packed-calendars].

Summary

Josh Hazlewood’s stance on Josh Hazlewood all three formats offers a roadmap for modern cricketers drowning in fixtures. By combining selective participation, transparent communication with management, and off-field discipline, he proves that multi-format cricket isn’t dead—it just requires smarter planning. In an age of rotation and specialization, Hazlewood stands as a testament to what’s possible when players take ownership of their careers. His blueprint isn’t just for veterans; it’s a survival guide for the next generation.

Sources

• Times of India: Why Hazlewood says playing all three formats is still possible
• ESPNCricinfo: Hazlewood’s workload management philosophy
• ICC: Player Wellbeing in the Modern Game Report
• Cricket Australia: Hazlewood outlines Ashes preparation strategy