The Australian selectors will put their faith in Josh Hazlewood’s judgment as he weighs tough choices with five quick strides into form for the fourth Ashes Test.
Hazlewood had about 35 minutes of leisurely bowling at the MCG Nets on Thursday, still having some discomfort returning from a side load.
The session was Hazlewood’s first bowling in nearly three weeks, after his side was injured in Ash’s opener at Gabba and lost the next two Tests.
With the series already in Australia’s favour, there is an argument that Hazlewood should be given more time to recover. But chief specialist George Bailey said his commission would not prevent Hazlewood from returning if it was appropriate.
“I’m very confident that Hoff knows his body and trusts his body,” Bailey said. “He will develop as he does before every test. He will talk to him a lot [assistant] Andrew MacDonald en [physio] David Beckley to see how it goes. If Huff is confident and says he’s right to go, I think we support him. He has earned that trust.”
Bailey also noted that Australia’s win in Melbourne means Mitchell Stark will not be in Sydney, despite being the only fastest to not miss a test this summer.
Starc only had 25 falls in the MCG, giving him Australia’s early wins on days four and five without bowling in the nets and a week between Tests.
“Your plans are constantly changing because you have no idea how much exaggeration you are doing,” Bailey said. “So you have to be a bit flexible about that. Today could have been day five. So our express work in particular we don’t have as heavy as in Adelaide and two extra days would all work for them.”
Captain Pat Cummins, who missed the second test due to Covid fears, is a man of peace who will surely play. Playing against both regulars Starc and Hazlewood means there will be no room for Scott Boland’s debut despite his impressive 6-vs-7 performance in his MCG debut.
Jhye Richardson will also miss after sitting out of the Melbourne Test with minor pain in his legs after winning five wickets in Adelaide.
At best there could be room for one of them, creating a difficult position for the limiter as Richardson topped Boland in the standings for Melbourne.
“That’s a headache. It’s a big headache,” Bailey said. “Of course there will be difficult conversations at some point.”
Another switch in the making could be Mitchell Sweepson, if Australia sees a Sydney wicket shift and decides to play two spinners, with Allrounder Cameron Greene as the third tailor.
“We have no doubt that Swepo is ready, whether in the SCG or sometime in the future,” Bailey said. “We would like nothing more than to have a chance, but it probably depends on the circumstances.”
