Johnson, Siddle and Hazlewood to sit out round four
CA rest pace trio for Sheffield Shield
Cricket Australia has opted to rest pace trio Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood from the upcoming Bupa Sheffield Shield round, giving rise to the possibility the three men have been earmarked to form Australia’s fast bowling attack for the first Test at the Gabba.
Boom fast bowler Hazlewood, fresh off nine wickets at an average of 14.66 in the Carlton Mid ODI series against South Africa, would become Australia’s 440th Test cricketer if he’s selected for the December 4 match in Brisbane.
Johnson is a certainty for the first Test after an outstanding year that has seen him claim the Allan Border Medal and ICC Player of the Year awards.
Siddle’s case to retain his spot in the Test XI has been strengthened following his seven wickets in the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers' outright win over the West End Redbacks in the last round of Shield matches, including a second innings 5-31.
Veteran Ryan Harris is the other fast bowler in contention, but after taking seven wickets in his return to first-class cricket last week, the myFoot Dr Queensland Bulls quick admitted he needed another game before facing the rigours of Test cricket.
Quick Single: Harris, Khawaja to play for Bulls
The 35-year-old will play against the Tasmanian Tigers at Allan Border Field starting Tuesday, but fellow fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has been ruled out with a hamstring injury he suffered in last night’s three-wicket win over South Africa at the MCG.
The Western Australian had scans this morning, but the extent of the injury is still unknown, joining injured captain Michael Clarke on the sidelines after he was ruled out of Tuesday's Shield round by the CA medical staff on Thursday.
While Australia’s fast bowlers are resting, the batting line-up will have one last hit before the four-match Commonwealth Bank Test Series against the touring Indians starts in 12 days' time.
The NSW Blues can expect to field a star-studded line-up that could include wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who is out to prove his return to fitness from a shoulder injury, while David Warner, Shane Watson and Steve Smith could also expect to play.