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NSW quick Josh Hazlewood will make his Test debut in a new-look Australian pace attack in the second Test against India on a bouncy Brisbane deck starting on Wednesday.
New skipper Steve Smith has confirmed that Hazlewood will receive his first baggy green, while left-arm speedster Mitchell Starc has earned a recall after Peter Siddle and the injured Ryan Harris have been overlooked.
Smith has elevated himself up the batting order to No.4, replacing injured captain Michael Clarke.
Shaun Marsh will now bat at No.5 ahead of his brother Mitchell.
Smith is confident Harris will overcome a quad strain to be available for the third Test.
He also hopes that Siddle can regain form after being dropped for his underwhelming display in Adelaide.
Smith said the extra bounce and pace at the juicy Gabba deck was considered before giving the green light to the 196cm Hazlewood.
“It’s very exciting. I have watched Josh very closely at NSW and he has impressed me every time,” Smith said of the 23-year-old Hazlewood.
“And I think he is only getting better and better – I think this pitch will suit him perfectly.
“I am looking forward to seeing him zinging a few through.”
Starc turned national selectors’ heads by taking four Sheffield Shield wickets for NSW last week.
He also has a good Gabba record – 14 first-class wickets at 24 and seven at 12.6 in ODIs.
Smith said Harris had failed to back up from bowling 40 overs in the Adelaide match – his first Test in nine months and only his fourth at any level since undergoing major knee surgery in March.
“(Coach) Darren Lehmann has always said if bowlers aren’t 100 per cent fit going into a match then we won’t be playing them so that’s very unfortunate for Ryan,” he said.
Siddle battled illness in the first Test and concerned many with his drop in form and pace.
The bowling line-up was uncertain before the team was finalised after five quicks hit the Gabba training nets with the addition of Starc on Saturday night.
“We just wanted to play a bowler with a little more pace and bounce,” Smith said of Starc who was recalled after playing the last of his 13 Tests against Pakistan last month.
“Mitchell obviously went back and bowled really well for NSW in the last couple of Shield games and deserves his spot.
“It is obviously very disappointing for Peter Siddle who has been a terrific bowler over a long period of time.
“He is certainly not out of the loop.
“He is still in and around the team and hopefully will get another game soon.”
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