Hazlewood feeling free as bowlers enter golden age

Josh Hazlewood believes Australia's champion bowlers may be revelling in their golden age, feeling free from stress as they extend towards a 10th year together.

Last week's 214-run win over South Africa in Durban marked a milestone match for the 'big four' of Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, as they became the first group to surpass 600 wickets in Tests played together.

There have been several notable lines from some of the group about their cricket mortality in recent weeks, with Nathan Lyon revealing he's giving up alcohol in a bid to "squeeze as much of the lemon as possible".

Captain Pat Cummins also admitted after the Durban Test that the quartet were relishing their time together, knowing it would not last for ever.

This summer will mark the 10th straight the quartet have been Australia's first-choice attack, since Cummins' return for the 2017-18 Ashes.

And on current form none look ready to ride off into the sunset, with winning in South Africa, India and England a very clear goal for the Australian team.

"You certainly do go through a period there at the end maybe, probably more from a batter's point of view, where you've seen people have golden eras," Hazlewood said.

"They say it's the icing on top of the cake. They've already done all the hard work and everything's a bonus from here on in.

"Usman (Khawaja), even Matty Wade had a nice little period where there's a bit more freedom and it's not going to change their life if they make 100 or a duck.

After Durban, Australia's coach Andrew McDonald compared the group to veterans in club cricket who kept playing because of mates in the changeroom.

Three wickets in the second Test in Gqeberha would also take Hazlewood above Mitchell Johnson into seventh on Australia's all-time list, with Lyon second, Starc fourth and Cummins sixth.

The other thing the group are doing well is batting, after helping Matt Renshaw take Australia from 6-124 to 390 in the first innings last week.

Australia's last four wickets have averaged more than any other team through the past five years, adding 88 per innings.

"I think that's the difference between maybe now and decades gone by," Hazlewood said.