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'Hard conversations' loom in Ashes selection squeeze

Chief selector George Bailey concedes he has a selection headache regarding which bowlers to pick for the fourth Test in Sydney

Australia's selectors will put their faith in Josh Hazlewood's judgement as they weigh up difficult choices with six quicks, the in-form Nathan Lyon and a highly-rated leg-spinner to pick from for the fourth Ashes Test.

Hazlewood got through around 35 minutes of gentle bowling in the MCG nets on Thursday, still appearing in some discomfort on return from a side strain.

The session was Hazlewood's first bowl in almost three weeks, after hurting his side in the Ashes opener at the Gabba and missing the next two Tests.

Image Id: 652702A9D28E4862A47BC7B8598DBA70 Image Caption: Hazlewood bowled at the MCG nets on Thursday // Getty

With the series already wrapped up in Australia's favour, there is some argument that Hazlewood should be given more time to recuperate, especially with a tour of Pakistan looming in March.

But chief selector George Bailey said his panel would not hold Hazlewood back if fit.

"I've got pretty good faith in Hoff knowing his own body and trusting his own body," Bailey said.

"He'll build up as he would before any sort of Test.

"He'll talk a lot with (assistant) Andrew McDonald and (physio) David Beakley to see how he's going. 

"If Hoff's confident and he says he's right to go I think we back him in. He's earned that trust."

Bailey also indicated that Australia's innings victory in Melbourne meant Mitchell Starc would not sit out in Sydney, despite being the only quick not to miss a Test this summer.

Starc was required to bowl just 25 overs at the MCG and Australia's early win gave him day four and five off without even bowling in the nets, giving him a week off between games.

"Your plans are constantly changing because you've got no idea how many overs the bowlers are going to bowl," Bailey said.

"So you've got to stay pretty fluid around that.

"Today would have been would have been day five (at the MCG). So our quicks, in particular, not having as heavy a workload as they had in Adelaide and a couple of extra days off will all work in their favour."

Skipper Pat Cummins, who missed the second test due to a COVID scare, is one paceman assured of playing.

If fellow regulars Starc and Hazlewood both play, it means there will be no room for debutant Scott Boland despite his stunning 6-7 performance on debut at the MCG.

Jhye Richardson would also miss out after sitting out the Melbourne Test with minor leg soreness following his match-winning five-wicket haul in Adelaide.

Queenslander Michael Neser, who made his debut in Adelaide, is also available.

At best there could be room for one of them, creating a tough situation for selectors given Richardson was above Boland in the pecking order before the Victorian's stunning display in Melbourne.

"That's a headache. It's a great headache," Bailey said with a smile.

Boland rips through England with 6-7 in sensational spell

"Obviously some hard conversations to be had at some stage."

The other spanner in the works could be uncapped leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, if Australia see a spinning wicket in Sydney and decide to play two tweakers, with allrounder Cameron Green as the third seamer.

"We've got no doubt that, whether it's at the SCG or whether it's sometime in the future, that Swepo is ready," Bailey said.

"We'd love nothing more for him to get an opportunity but it will probably be conditions-dependent."

Vodafone Men's Ashes

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith (vc), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

England: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Schedule

First Test: Australia won by nine wickets

Second Test: Australia won by 275 runs

Third Test: Australia won by an innings and 14 runs

Fourth Test: January 5-9, SCG

Fifth Test: January 14-18, Blundstone Arena