‘I knew it was sandpaper’: Josh Hazlewood falls victim to Barmy Army’s prank

The Barmy Army did not travel Down Under
with their entire battalion, but even with their fewer count at the Gabba for
the first Test of the Ashes they got into the head of Australian pacer Josh
Hazlewood, who fell victim to one of their pranks at the venue, and the famed
England supporters took to Twitter to share the image as well.

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As England lost the Brisbane Test by nine
wickets on the fourth day, Hazelwood was spotted signing autographs for fans at
the boundary rope, thanks to relaxed COVID-19 protocols, which had earlier
denied any fan interaction during their last home summer when India travelled
to Australia.

The Barmy Army managed to get Hazlewood’s
autograph and shared the image on Twitter, but what the pacer did not realise
is that the paper, on which he signed, had the words written, “I Joshua
‘Joshie’ Hazlewood do solemnly swear that I knew it was sandpaper.”

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The Barmy Army shared the post with the
caption, “Josh Hazlewood just signed this on the boundary, we knew it.”

Hazlewood took three wickets in the match
as Australia went 1-0 up against England in a five-Test series. After being
bundled out for 147 in the first innings in response to Australia’s first
innings total of 425, England could score 297 runs in the second innings.

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English resistance broke down shortly after
the dismissals of two set overnight batters in captain Joe Root and Dawid
Malan. They lost eight wickets for just 77 to set Australia a target of only 20
runs.

Australia lost only one wicket, of Alex
Carey, and required less than half an hour to wrap up the chase.

Also Read: I’m pinching myself: Australia’s Travis Head on quick-fire Ashes ton vs England

Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon, who went wicketless
in the first innings, scalped four wickets to enter the elite club of 400 Test
wickets. Lyon was one short of the magical figure before the start of the
Brisbane Test. He is the first Australian off-spinner and only the second after
leg-spinner Shane Warne to take 400 plus Test wickets.