Australia will reportedly gamble on resting key quicks Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood for the upcoming Test tour of Bangladesh, opening the door for the likes of James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Gurinder Sandhu.
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While it is understandable Australia want to protect the fitness of Hazlewood and Johnson, who have had heavy workloads the past six months, their absence would buoy an improving Bangladesh side.
Fairfax reported that plans were in place to rest the pair from the two Tests in Bangladesh to ensure they are fresh for the home season.
This Australian summer is unusually busy, with Australia set to play eight Tests – three-match series at home against the West Indies and the Kiwis, followed by two Tests in New Zealand in February.
Then in March, Australia travel to India for the T20 World Cup, although neither Hazlewood nor Johnson are guaranteed of earning a spot in the squad for that tournament.
They are, however, key cogs in the Australian Test attack. Both men were below their best in the recent Ashes but they will be perfectly suited by the venues for the first two Tests of the home summer, suggesting they are almost automatic selections.
Those matches will be played at the two bounciest and fastest tracks in the world – the Gabba and the WACA.
Australia will be aware of the major threat posed by a potent New Zealand side. They also will know that most of the Kiwi batsmen have never experienced anything like facing 150kmh bowlers on rock-hard Test decks.
They will be hoping Johnson and fellow express left-armer Mitchell Starc can rattle the Kiwis in these first two Tests.
Hazlewood, meanwhile, could reprise his role as the miserly seamer to balance out the attack.
He may have struggled to control the swing of the Dukes ball, but Hazlewood has been phenomenally accurate with the Kookaburra.
Probing away on or just outside off, the sharp lift he would gain off those pitches thanks to his 196-centimetre frame would present a major challenge to the Kiwis.
Of course, there is always the prospect that in their absence, other quicks could steal a march on Hazlewood and Johnson by excelling in Bangladesh.
The tour now shapes as a huge opportunity for emerging pacemen Pat Cummins, Coulter-Nile, Pattinson and Sandhu.
Veteran seamer Peter Siddle reportedly was at risk of being overlooked for the series but now seems very likely to tour as the wise old head among an otherwise inexperienced pace group.
Meanwhile, the five-match ODI series between Australia and England shapes as the venue for a shootout between Cummins, Coulter-Nile and Pattinson.
The 22-year-old Cummins made a heavy impression during Australia’s narrow loss in Monday’s T20 clash against England. Pushing the speed gun up to 153kmh and operating consistently in the high 140s, he rattled several of England’s strokemakers on a benign surface.
Australian coach Darren Lehmann is well known to favour express Test bowlers and with Johnson not playing, the selectors may think Cummins’ pace could overwhelm the Bangladeshis.
Pattinson and Coulter-Nile may not be quite as quick as Cummins but both also appeal with their speed.
Pattinson has played only one Test for Australia in the past two years. However, he showed his ability on slow Asian surfaces during Australia’s disastrous Test tour of India in 2013, proving to be the standout quick from either side.
Sandhu is the bolter, thanks largely to his surprisingly effective spells of off-spin for Australia A in the first-class games against India A in Chennai recently.
Mimicking former Australian Test player Colin Miller, Sandhu bowled pace with the new ball before switching to tweakers to exploit the dusty strips.
dan ced
Guest
Bangladesh are one of the form teams in world cricket right now. On a hot streak.
dan ced
Guest
Real fidgety when batting too. Once the commentators pointed it out I can't not see it now.
dan ced
Guest
I think right now Klinger is a no brainer for any format. Behrendorff replaces Hazelwood Burns, Bancroft, Klinger, Smith, Voges, M.Marsh, Nevill, Starc, Siddle, Behrendorff, Lyon Faulkner, Maxwell, and Fawad/SOK as reserves. Maybe another pacer.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
If Australia go 3-0 up at Machester, which looks likely, then I'm sure Starc will be rested from the final 2 games with Pattinson and Agar coming into the mix.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
Ron i think it would be wise to rest Starc as well...he probably has had the heaviest "workload" of all. Also does not make much point in taking Pattinson and Cummins . Both are just coming bacl from injury concerns , the worst they can do is get some stress fracture\muscle pull again in the hot subcontinent conditions. I would actually have Siddle, Coulter-Nile and Sandhu in the squad , ask the pacers to keep it really tight and let the spinners rip at the other end. Lyon is a very tough customer to handle on spinning tracks from his recent past exploits
Roger
Guest
What a strange nick you have for someone who is always whinging.
Andy
Guest
I agree ronan, Khawaja is only 28, love how some guys pick on him while pushing for other guys in their 30s, he is a class act and I hope he has a big summer
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Nudge, Mike Hussey only averaged 40 in Shield cricket when he was selected for Tests. Khawaja averages 43 in Shield cricket so I wouldn't rule him out based on age.
Amith
Guest
'd go with a 13-14 man squad for the two tests. Warner, , Khawaja, Klinger, Smith (c), Voges, M.Marsh, Nevill (wk), Agar, Starc, Siddle, Lyon, Handscombe, Pattinson and maybe a spare keeper like Whiteman.
Amith
Guest
Good decision to rest both jhonson and Hazelwood test squad, Warner.Khawjaa.Klinger.smith.voges.handscomb.navil.Lyon.agar.stac.pattinson.great move by selectors to not pick hezalwood on those flat slow pitches u need real pace to take wickets I don't think Hazelwood can take wickets in flat show pitches.
Amith
Guest
I agree wtth Ann, selecting Khawaja should be a no brainer, he was the best matador batsman last year before injury, and did well in his last shield season, he has scored domestic runs over a period of time and is not being picked just because of 1 or 2 good games. Time to get him in. Also why don't team management send Watson as opener in one dayers? he is all the exceptional credibilities, intact most of the runs scored on that particular slot by him..all of a sudden, Watto is just a player to face some last 20 overs and bowl some overs on captain's order..Ridiculous!
Sideline Comm.
Guest
In what way is including Khawaja a" no brainer"?
Ann
Guest
It's a no brainer that Khawaja must come in but the real question is whether its opener ir at 3, whichever it is I hope we give him a real run. I also reckon Lyon will be player of the series. But this is certainly good practise for the aussies to get a lot of practise against the very good spinners Bangladesh have. It can only be competitive if it is a spinning track as a flat track like usual in Bangladesh will mean Aussies will win easily.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I wouldn't be raking Johnson tio Bangladesh for the simple reason that in those conditions he would be worse than useless. Its not resting him, its picking the best team for the opposition and conditions. On the rolled mud of Bangladeshi pitches, with no pace and bounce, completely ineffective. He might still get wickets because Bangladesh isn't the world's strongest team, but others should do better. "Resting" anyone, given how the side performed in the UAE and anywhere that's not somewhat Australia-like, and how inexperienced this side is would betaking a serious risk. Australia should still win 2-0, weather permitting, but this has the potential to be a far closer series than many would expect. Bangladesh could well be on top at times in each game, but a lack of class and experience in the long form will cost them.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
It's not up to the players now though. That's been made obvious. If they wanted him rested, he would not be playing.
Jarijari
Guest
See your point Ronan, but I think they will both be rested. Anyway for what it's worth Warner Burns (doesn't matter whether he opens or is first drop) Khawaja Smith (c) Voges (one more chance) M Marsh Nevill Starc Pattinson Lyon Sandhu (yeh, try that half extra spinner bit) Reserves Bancroft O'Keefe Cummins Hang on, that's only eight Blues, might have to get more.
Andrew
Guest
Khawaja was our best aus A batsman in one dayers, he is by far the best matador batsman, like Hughes he is special and it's time to get him in as he is world class
Steve
Guest
Can i ask an off topic question- what does steve smith shake in each hand out of his pockets just before each ball is bowled when he’s in the field? Its driving me crazy!
Nudge
Guest
Nearly 29, and averages 39/40 in first class cricket. Not mentally tough enough in my opinion. Id prefer to go with someone averaging around the same but 4 or 5 years younger. Or even better someone 4 or 5 years younger that averages 6 more runs than khawaja, like Lynn whi averages 46. Hussey came in at 30 odd years of age and was averaging around 50 odd in first class cricket
Ann
Guest
Yes agreed bush, get burns and Khawaja in