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.
Colinp
Guest
I'm not comparing him others have, that was the point i was making. I think Hazlewood could be excellent in the future, but he's been poor this series while ronan keeps telling people he's bowled well when he hasn't. Buttler has also been poor, but we hope will be very good in the future. Read the posts first please nudge
Nudge
Guest
You make the excuse that it's his first ashes series Colp but ignore the fact that it's Hazlewoods first ashes series also, and first experience bowling in England, and yet he has still been a hell of lot better than Butler. Biased much? Pretty sure you've been slagging Ronan for identical stuff. You must be seriously drunk to compare Butler to Devilliers
Big Steve
Guest
pretty hard on a spinner when the batsman don't even get enough runs to make the other team bat twice. agreed on handing out caps.
JimmyB
Guest
Diggety diggety!
JimmyB
Guest
He's been decent keeping to the quicks, needs to work on keeping to spinners. As a batsman, most of us know that he's got all the talent in the world, he'll come good.
ColinP
Guest
Maxwell couldn't hit it off the square in yorkshire and has been playing for the seconds, then suddenly walks up at the weekend and hits a championship winning hundred...get him in opening
ColinP
Guest
I love yorkshires Glenn maxwell....his nickname in the changing room is quagmire, sounds like a legend....but still a terrible cricketer
ColinP
Guest
Not worried about gloves at the moment, they all improve. Honestly nudge, natural talent wise there is a consensus buttler could be that good, hopefully he will find some form for ODIs
dan in devon
Guest
Can't fault Aussie arrogance! They should have played some serious cricket here before the test matches - but does the international itinerary allow for that? I think that the loss of Ryan Harris was too great to cover.
Ruminate
Roar Guru
Fair point, then he should definitely be going to Bangladesh, with the opening spot up for grabs
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
He didn't say dropping Marsh was a mistake. He said that moving away from having an all-rounder was a mistake. Could be referring to Watson as much as Marsh, given that.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Speak for yourself. I had been on the boards before the series pointing out that we hadn't won in England since god knows when. I didn't understand the betting odds before the series either. Found it weird that Aussies were such strong favourites.
Andy
Guest
A quarter of the time he is a terrific #3 in England the rest of the time he is below average to way way below average.
Andy
Guest
Good points however Anderson and Broad especially are still pretty young and should be good for at least another couple of years.
Don Freo
Guest
Smith scored 200 and 50 at number 3 only 2 weeks ago. He is a terrific #3.
Don Freo
Guest
NCN just took a 4 for in the ODI in India.
Greg Ryan
Guest
Mitch Johnson is getting away from what he does best. The dismissals of Bainstow and Stokes during the 3rd Test was vintage Mitch. Before the dismissals I was at a pub with a mate who was suggesting that Mitch should pitch it up and use the conditions. I said "no way, Mitch just needs to aim for the crash helmets". That is what happened to devastate England. Mitch then started to try and swing it. He should only pitch the ball up once he has struck the batsman on the back foot. He needs to bowl a maximum of 3 over spells where he strikes fear into batsman. No seam or swing for Mitch, just brutality. Starc can be the full swing and seam bowler. Cummins is the most special talent of all. He can bowl brutal Mitch Johnson short balls ( remember that ball to Kallis) and also bowls great out swingers. He has played one test match for one man of the match award. Surely that entitles him to 2nd test match.
Don Freo
Guest
You are not risking him. He needs to play. What are we doing? Saving him so that when he turns 36yo we decide he is now match hardened and can finally play. He's a sportsman. Let him play his sport. If he breaks down, he will miss no more games than he is missing now because of this silly cotton wool policy.
Don Freo
Guest
What? Drop Johnson and lose our best batsman?
Nudge
Guest
AB Devilliers, strike me drunk I've heard it all now. Whats his first class batting average 35? I'm sure he hasn't shown us what he can do with the bat this series. But it's with the gloves I'd be worried about. Seems a long way off a test quality gloveman.