Legendary Australian wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy believes fast bowler Josh Hazlewood really has to prove himself when the countdown begins for the first Ashes Test, to be held in Edgbaston from 16 June.

Former Australian cricketer Ian Healy has urged the Australia national cricket team's pacemakers to bowl better than they did in England.

The Aussies have not won a single Test series in England since 2001. They defended their Ashes urn in England last series but that was the result of a 2-2 draw in the series.

Commenting on the Australian bowling attack, Ian Healy said:

“Our Quicks have never done a great job and gone through England in the 20 years we've bowled in England, have they? We need to get better at our fast bowling spells in England.”

Ian Healy has said leading right arm pacemaker Josh Hazlewood "really needs to prove himself" ahead of the marquee Ashes series as he has been out of action for 4 months with an injury.

"Hazlewood really needs to prove himself," he replied when asked how solid the lineup is.

Hazlewood had played a crucial role in Royal Challengers Bangalore finishing third in the 2022 IPL and was yet to play in the current tournament due to a left Achilles injury that kept him from the Tour of India earlier in the year represent.

“Hazlewood really has to prove himself. He's just coming back to the IPL. That was a four-month Achilles strain, not even surgery. I don't want him to spend so much time with his injuries. That's what Shane Watson had to do at the end of his career he was eight weeks for a calf (machining)," Healy was quoted as saying.

It must be noted that two of Australia's three frontline men - Pat Cummins and Josh Hazelwood - are on average better in England than they are at home. The only exception here is Mitchell Starc.