Josh Hazlewood has revealed his formula for surviving all three formats of cricket in the modern era: strategic planning, picking and choosing games, and taking short breaks to refresh rather than sitting out entire series. The 34-year-old Australian pacer believes multi-format cricket remains possible with meticulous workload management.​

Pick and Choose Your Moments

Speaking on the Royal Challengers Bengaluru podcast, Hazlewood explained his approach to balancing the year-round cricket calendar. “I think it’s (playing all formats) possible to a degree. I think Australian cricket is getting a lot better. In a five-match series, playing Games 1, 3 and 5, or 1, 2 and 3 and then heading home for a few weeks just to refresh or missing the odd one game or something like that,” he said.​

The key, according to Hazlewood, is maximizing those brief breaks. “Just get home for a week and maximise that time and refresh and come back to the group. So, I think, not resting the whole series but picking and choosing your moments, I think that’s the biggest (team) meeting we have, go through the calendar, see exactly what we want to play”.​

Australia’s Clear-Cut Policy

Hazlewood praised Cricket Australia’s approach, which gives players autonomy over their schedules. “Obviously, all the Test matches are given… yeah, we can play two out of those three, or three out of the five or whatever it is, I mean often if there is a Test match round the corner, you have to build up anyway. So, I think it’s possible (to play all formats) to a degree,” he explained.​

This flexible policy allows experienced players like Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to maintain consistency across formats without burning out.

Recent Example

Hazlewood’s strategy was evident recently when he skipped the last three T20Is against England to play a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales against Victoria—crucial preparation for the upcoming Ashes. This selective approach ensures he maintains match fitness in the format that matters most while avoiding unnecessary strain.​

Experience Is Key

Tim David, Australia’s T20 specialist who will play for RCB in the upcoming IPL, highlighted how experience enables such strategic planning. “We are so lucky in Australian cricket that because these guys are fast bowlers, they are going for all the formats… they are so experienced, so they know what works for their bodies,” David said.​

“They know what they’re capable of doing, they don’t have to have excessive prep to lead into a match, so for those guys to plan ahead that takes a lot of experience,” added David, who has 68 T20Is under his belt.​

Youth Lacks Same Flexibility

David emphasized that younger players cannot replicate this approach immediately. “You can’t just do that when you are young, you don’t really know how things work. So, that helps massively with those (experienced) guys in planning. I think the track record of results (of bowlers like Hazlewood) shows that they’re allowed to make their decisions,” he explained.​

This highlights the importance of accumulated wisdom—knowing one’s body, understanding personal workload limits, and recognizing which games provide optimal preparation for priority formats.

Current Injury Setback

Ironically, despite his careful management, Hazlewood will miss the Ashes opener in Perth due to injury, as will regular captain Cummins. However, his overall career longevity—consistently performing across all three formats alongside Cummins—validates his strategic approach.​

The Bigger Picture

Hazlewood’s formula addresses cricket’s modern dilemma: how to maintain elite performance across formats without breaking down physically or mentally. His solution isn’t revolutionary—it’s pragmatic: don’t skip entire series, but strategically miss individual matches to recharge and prepare properly for priority fixtures.

For younger fast bowlers aspiring to multi-format careers, Hazlewood’s message is clear: play smart, not just hard. Build experience, understand your body, and work with your board to create sustainable schedules. The era of playing every single match is over—selective participation is the new longevity blueprint.