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The wilting Josh Hazlewood should be rested and Pat Cummins given a chance to show his wares in the fifth Ashes Test.
Mitch Marsh also must come back into the line-up and should be given a solid run at the number six spot, after being dumped last Test in a move coach and selector Darren Lehmann has admitted was a mistake.
Hazlewood arguably was the best bowler from either side during the first two Tests, but has grown increasingly weary and has lost his rhythm.
The 24-year-old rookie has been receiving unfair levels of criticism after Australia meekly handed back the Ashes. While his performances have been below par, the past two Tests they must be viewed in context.
Firstly, Hazlewood and his fellow bowlers have been cruelled by their batsmen’s enormous failures. When your side has just capitulated for 60, even the most experienced and skilful bowlers are less likely to perform with a clear mind. It was a similar story in the third Test when Australia batted first and folded for 136.
Secondly, he has had responsibility heaped on him unexpectedly during his first Ashes series.
Hazlewood very strangely has come in for as much criticism as Mitchell Johnson, who has been easily Australia’s least effective bowler despite being by far their most experienced and the supposed spearhead of the attack. Johnson’s inability to lead the attack has heaped pressure on youngsters Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Hazlewood was supposed to be a support bowler in this series, operating in the slipstream of the vastly experienced pair of Johnson and Ryan Harris. The shock retirement of Harris, coupled with Johnson’s lack of input has left Hazlewood and Starc as the men skipper Michael Clarke has been relying on.
Thirdly, Hazlewood never looked likely to play four Tests on the trot in this series, with rotation of their quicks almost certainly in Australia’s original plans. But he seemingly has been forced to do so due to the retirement of Harris. Hazlewood’s sole glaring weakness is a lack of stamina.
Injury after injury has meant that, almost seven years after making his first-class debut, Hazlewood has played just 38 matches. He has had few periods where he has strung together a decent sequence of matches.
Never before has he had thrust upon him the kind of workload he has shouldered the past month. Patently he looked knackered in the fourth Test, after showing signs in the previous match that he was feeling the strain.
Australia need to be mindful of this and manage Hazlewood carefully as he builds his fitness base and his body becomes accustomed to the stress of international cricket. They should start by resting him for the final Ashes Test.
It has been reported that the selectors will not look outside their 17-man squad when picking the XI for this match. That leaves Peter Siddle and Pat Cummins as the only pace alternatives. There have been reports in the Australian media that Siddle is one of a large group of players from that squad unlikely to ever play Test cricket again after this series.
In Siddle’s case, he has taken just 26 wickets at an average of 45 in his past 12 Tests so such a banishment would be justified. There is nothing to be gained by playing him at The Oval.
Cummins is very fortunate to be on this tour. When he turned out for Australia in their tour match against Derbyshire it was his first first-class match in two years.
There is no denying his extraordinary talent, though, and he is in Australia’s plans whereas Siddle clearly is not. That makes it a straightforward selection.