Follow UsRicky Ponting, former Australian skipper, has backed Josh Hazlewood to reclaim his spot in the playing XI for the first Ashes Test against England, starting June 16.
The right-arm pacer was very close to featuring in the summit clash of the World Test Championship against India at the Oval, but the team management wanted him to have a bit of extra time before the marquee series.
In his absence, Scott Boland replaced him in the playing XI, but Ponting believes if Hazlewood is fit, he will be out on the park for the opening Test.
"If Hazlewood is fit and they are 100% convinced that he can get through the game, then I think he'll start, but if he doesn't, you have a pretty good backup," he said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
"Scotty is very impressive. The thing the selectors might be thinking about is Josh's injury record over the last few years. When you look at it, with Scotty bowling the way he is, it's a pretty compelling argument to say if he is in their starting XI for the first Test.
Boland has been impressive since making his debut in the last Ashes series in Melbourne. The right-arm pacer shattered numerous records en route to his 6 for 7 in front of his home crowd and has been sublime in the limited opportunities he has got.
With the five Test matches squeezed into a limited time frame, Ponting believes the two teams will rotate their bowling unit through the course of the series.
"Looking ahead, though, with five Test matches in six weeks, don't think we can expect either bowling group to get through. Both teams will probably have to rest a quick or two here and there through the series."
The 48-year-old also shared his inputs on the no-balls bowled by Pat Cummins that denied Australia two wickets in the ongoing summit clash against India and stated the Aussie skipper is lacking a bit of rhythm after a lengthy period off the field.
"Simple, he's lacking rhythm. He hasn't played for three months. He's bowled six no-balls in this innings, and two of them have cost him a wicket, but he's never been someone that I can remember that's been plagued by any kind of no-ball issue.
"I just think it's because he's not back into full game mode and not back into his full rhythm. As today went on, I did think he looked better, and I think he'll be better in the second innings as well," he concluded.
The first Ashes Test starts on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.