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Gabba record on England's mind: Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood and Australia's pace cartel are again under an injury cloud. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
20th November, 2017
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It is Test cricket’s longest active undefeated streak.

And pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood believes Australia’s formidable Gabba record will be playing on England’s minds ahead of this week’s Ashes opener.

Australia have not lost a Test at the Brisbane venue since 1988, going 28 matches unbeaten with just seven draws.

Hazlewood claimed Australia’s remarkable 29-year run would provide a psychological advantage in their quest to win back the urn.

“They haven’t had much success here in recent times so it’s obviously good to have it in the back of their minds,” Hazlewood said before the first Test starting on Thursday.

The NSW speedster believed the importance of starting a home series in Brisbane was reflected last summer.

Tradition was shelved and the Test series against South Africa began in Perth with Brisbane later hosting a pink ball clash against Pakistan.

Australia were thrashed by 177 runs at the WACA then suffered an innings loss in Hobart that prompted mass team changes, losing the series 2-1.

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“Looking back it would have been nice to start at the Gabba,” Hazlewood said of last summer.

“Obviously our record there is pretty good. It’s been talked about I guess after losing in Perth.

“It’s always good to start up here and have that extra confidence of the record we have up here.”

England are no strangers to ending streaks.

They claimed a stunning Test triumph at Karachi’s National Cricket Stadium back in 2000, the first time Pakistan had lost at the venue in 45 years, ending a 34-match unbeaten run.

But Test spinner Nathan Lyon said Australia’s Gabba record would be intimidating to the current England crop.

“I love playing cricket there,” said Lyon, who has snared a handsome 26 wickets at 27.46 in six Gabba Tests.

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“So I think it’s quite intimidating for an opposition team to come out here.

“Especially when they see the record of the Australian cricket team here and the waythe Queensland public and Australian fans get behind it.

“I can’t wait, to be honest.”

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