SYDNEY: Australian pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood could miss next month’s Test series in Bangladesh so they can rest ahead of a busy summer schedule.

The Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday said Cricket Australia was intent on carefully managing their key quicks with a home series against New Zealand and the West Indies to come from November.Australia also play a one-day series against India and two more Tests in New Zealand in the new year with selectors meeting to discuss the tour of Bangladesh within the next few weeks.

“There’s some important consideration that needs to be given to managing our fast bowlers, not just in Bangladesh, but the full 10-Test season, and that will be part of the discussion,” CA’s team performance manager Pat Howard told the newspaper.

“Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood are two players that have had heavy workloads and need to be managed carefully if we are to give them the best chance of success throughout that entire period.

“Neither player has had a pre-season to prepare for the Australian summer and we think that’s particularly important.”

If Johnson and Hazlewood are rested it would open the door for Peter Siddle to continue his renaissance after bowling impressively in the final Ashes Test against England at The Oval last month.

It could also see the recall of either Pat Cummins or James Pattinson to partner Mitchell Starc, although the selection of two spinners is possible given sub-continental conditions.

The first Test against Bangladesh starts in Chittagong on October 9, with the second in Mirpur from October 17.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2015

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