MELBOURNE: Pace bowler Peter Siddle has been brought into Australia’s squad in place of the injured Josh Hazlewood for the second Test against New Zealand on what is expected to be a benign Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) pitch.

Hazlewood suffered a low-grade hamstring tear in his second over in the opening match of the series in Perth and did not bowl again as Australia romped to a 296-run victory inside four days.

“Peter Siddle helped us retain the Ashes, he’s got over 200 test wickets, he’s a ripping person around the team,” coach Justin Langer told reporters in Perth. “For the Boxing Day Test match he just seemed like the simple solution.”

The 35-year-old Siddle, who has not played a test in Australia since late 2016, was still behind James Pattinson and Michael Neser in the pecking order despite the game being played on his home ground, Langer added.

“We selected James Pattinson and Michael Neser, they both haven’t played yet,” Langer said.

“They’ll be in front of him. That’s about consistency of selection. I’d say James or Michael or both of them will definitely play that Test match.”

Pattinson, who has taken 75 wickets in 19 Tests, is likely to be the third seamer alongside Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins. Neser is yet to play a Test.

NZ CALL UNCAPPED JAMIESON

Uncapped fast bowler Kyle Jamieson has been called into the New Zealand squad for the remainder of their Test series after Lockie Ferguson suffered a strained calf muscle in the first Test loss.

Ferguson bowled just 11 overs in the first innings of his Test debut before he limped off with the injury and did not bowl again. He was ruled out of the series on Monday.

Jamieson, 24, will join the squad in Australia on Wednesday.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for Kyle who has impressed in the Plunket Shield domestic four-day competition,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said in a statement.

“We’ve also been really encouraged by his progress in the... winter camps and his performances for New Zealand A.”

The two-metre tall Jamieson, who has taken 72 wickets at 27.93 in 25 first class games, could find it difficult to break into the New Zealand pace attack for the match, with Trent Boult expected to be fully fit.

Australia squad: Tim Paine (captain and wicket-keeper), David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, , Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle.

Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2019