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Hazlewood ready for Test stage

Aussie quick in the mix for Baggy Green at the Gabba

Form has Josh Hazlewood in contention for a Test debut, while fitness has the 23-year-old convinced he is ready for cricket's big stage.

Hazlewood is the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Carlton Mid ODI Series against South Africa, having snared nine scalps and piloted Australia to a 2-1 lead.

Since making his one-day international debut at the age of 19, Hazlewood has been touted as the future of the Australian pace attack alongside James Pattinson, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.

Like Pattinson, Cummins and Starc, numerous injuries have followed.

But Hazlewood has made a pain-free and productive start to the current season.

Next week the NSW giant could be named in the Commonwealth Bank Test squad for the series opener at the Gabba, which starts on December 4.

"Just in the mix really," Hazlewood replied on Thursday when asked if the topic had been broached by national selectors.

"Obviously I've been going pretty well the last few weeks and got that (Sheffield) Shield game early in the season, which was good.

"There's plenty of bowlers in the mix, so we'll see how it goes."

Hazlewood went within a whisker of making his Test debut two years ago, when he was named 12th man against South Africa in Perth.

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"I think I'm much more ready now," Hazlewood said.

"Definitely. I've been on the park for a while now in succession, and I haven't really had that in previous years.

"The body's feeling good and everything seems to be falling into place."

Hazlewood suggested there was no secret formula behind keeping his 196cm frame together.

"I think it's just getting older and getting the body a bit stronger over the last few years," he said.

The right-armer is the only Australian paceman to have played all three ODI contests against South Africa over the past week.

Hazlewood was unsure whether he would be rested from the fifth and final game in Sydney on Sunday, or the Shield game that starts at the SCG on Tuesday.

"I'll take that as it comes. It will depend on ... how much I bowl and how the body is feeling," he said.