Australian coach Darren Lehmann prefers resting Josh Hazlewood for an ODI series rather than a Test series.
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Heavy workload ahead for Josh Hazlewood
Australian coach Darren Lehmann is expecting pace bowler Josh Hazlewood to carry a heavy workload in the upcoming series against West Indies following the injury to Mitchell Starc.
With Starc out of the series Hazlewood and Peter Siddle will be the lead bowlers against West Indies with James Pattinson likely to be the third seamer.
Earlier in the week chairman of the Australian selectors Rod Marsh revealed that Hazlewood will most likely be given a rest at some point of time in the summer.
Since making his Test debut in December last year, Hazlewood has played 12 matches and has picked up 53 wickets at an average of 24.16.
Lehmann wants the best bowling attack for Australia in Test matches and feels that if Hazlewood needs a rest it will most likely come during an One-Day International series.
“Test cricket, we have always said we are trying to pick the best side day-in, day-out,” Lehmann told reporters in Adelaide.
“So if we rest him, if we had to do it in the one-dayers that might be a better option for us.
“But at the moment he's bowling well so we want to keep playing him.
“There's a decent break between the first and second tests so I wouldn't say there are too many issues there, probably the short turnaround (from) Melbourne-Sydney ... but providing they pull up alright, if they're fit to go, they play.”
Australia have also included Nathan Coulter-Nile in the squad to replace the injured Mitchell Starc while Victoria’s Scott Boland is on standby.
Coulter-Nile's selection has been criticised by Victoria's bowling coach David Saker and former Australian fast bowler Geoff Lawson.
Nevertheless Lehmann has backed Coulter-Nile's selection by saying that the 28-year-old can offer something special with his bowling.
“We think he has got something special, his one-day record for us has been exceptional.
“It’s a tight call on a whole heap of bowlers around the country but that is the way we have decided to go.”
Australia's three-match series against West Indies gets underway with the first Test which will be played in Hobart between 10th and 14th December.
© Cricket World 2015
