Josh Hazlewood Targets BGT in India and Ashes in England Before Retirement
Australian pace ace Josh Hazlewood, 35, has articulated his ambitious goals, aiming to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India (Jan-Mar 2027) and the Ashes in England (Jun-Aug 2027) with the Australian Test team before contemplating retirement. The veteran fast bowler is currently five wickets shy of 300 Test wickets and views these upcoming tours as.
Veteran Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has openly discussed his long-term ambitions in Test cricket, stating that winning series in India and England remains a significant driving force as he approaches the latter stages of his illustrious career. The 35-year-old, a cornerstone of Australia's formidable pace attack, emphasized his desire to tick off these monumental achievements alongside his teammates before considering retirement. Stephen Fleming Named England New Test Coach, Joe Root Appointed Captain.
Josh Hazlewood Speaks On Ambitions
"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 stated, as quoted by 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.'
Hazlewood, who turns 36 in January 2027, has been a central figure for Australia since his Test debut in December 2014. Despite his remarkable career, which has seen him take 295 Test wickets to date, he has yet to be part of an Australian side that has clinched a Test series victory in India or England. Australia last won an away Ashes series in 2001 and their most recent Test series triumph in India was in 2004.
The Next Challenges: India and England
Australia's calendar presents two major opportunities for Hazlewood to achieve these career-defining goals in the coming years. The first will be the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour of India in early 2027, followed by the Ashes series in England later the same year. Ashes 2027 Schedule Announced: England Host Australia in Five-Test Series Starting June 18.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2027 in India
India is set to host Australia for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, scheduled from January 21 to March 3, 2027. This series marks a crucial period for Australia, who will aim to defend the trophy after reclaiming it with a 3-1 victory at home in 2024-25.
| Match | Dates | Venue | Time (AEDT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | January 21-25, 2027 | VCA Stadium, Nagpur | 3:00 PM |
| 2nd Test | January 29-February 2, 2027 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | 3:00 PM |
| 3rd Test | February 11-15, 2027 | ACA Stadium, Guwahati | 3:00 PM |
| 4th Test | February 19-23, 2027 | JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi | 3:00 PM |
| 5th Test | February 27-March 3, 2027 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
Ashes Series 2027 in England
Following the subcontinent challenge, Australia will travel to England for the historic Ashes series in the summer of 2027. This five-Test encounter will see Australia attempt to retain the urn on English soil for the first time since 2001. Ajinkya Rahane Retires from International Cricket.
| Match | Dates | Venue | Time (BST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | June 18-22, 2027 | Trent Bridge, Nottingham | 11:00 AM |
| 2nd Test | June 30-July 4, 2027 | Lord's, London | 11:00 AM |
| 3rd Test | July 8-12, 2027 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | 11:00 AM |
| 4th Test | July 21-25, 2027 | Utilita Bowl, Southampton | 11:00 AM |
| 5th Test | July 29-August 2, 2027 | The Kia Oval, London | 11:00 AM |
Josh Hazlewood's Current Form and Anticipated Return
Hazlewood is currently preparing for Australia's Test series against Bangladesh, which will mark his return to the red-ball format after a 13-month absence due to hamstring and Achilles injuries. This upcoming series provides him an opportunity to cross the 300-Test wicket milestone, being just five wickets shy of the mark.
The right-arm quick's focus on team success over individual milestones underscores the collective ambition within the Australian camp to conquer these significant cricketing frontiers. With a busy schedule of up to 21 Tests over the next 12-18 months, Hazlewood and his teammates are gearing up for a demanding but potentially historic period in Australian cricket.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2026 06:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).