Josh Hazlewood: Australia quick holidaying at his family's Bendemeer home

He was also counting his blessings.

Had the Australia quick not opted out of the current Indian Premier League season, he would be spending most of his time holed up in a hotel room as a second wave of COVID pounds the country.

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Instead, he is relaxing at his family's Bendemeer home ahead of a tour of the West Indies, the Twenty20 World Cup and a home Ashes series.

"I think I made the right call there," he said of not playing in the IPL. "Good luck to the boys over there."

He added: "It's good to have a little break. I've sort of been going for 10 months straight ... Just enjoying the time off at the moment."

By not going to India, Hazlewood was able to play for NSW in the Marsh Cup and Marsh Sheffield Shield finals.

"Bad luck in the Shield final," he said, adding: "[But] we got the job done in the one-day comp. It's good to see a few boys with NSW coming through."

At age 17, Hazlewood became the youngest-ever player selected for NSW. A few years earlier he made his first-grade debut, at Old Boys.

Since making his Test debut at age 23, Hazlewood's unyielding line and length has resulted in him taking 212 wickets in 55 Tests at an average of 25.65.

"You always look to improve all the time," he said. "If you become a bit stagnate, other people go past you.

"The game's always evolving a bit, so you've gotta move with the times."

Hazlewood was at Riverside his week for the unveiling of a cricket net named after him.

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