Hazlewood wants fifth bowling option in the Ashes

Josh Hazlewood, the Australian pacer who has returned from rehabilitation after suffering a side strain in Bangladesh, pointed out, a fifth bowling option in the final Playing XI in the Ashes would be helpful.

With the recent history of injuries to their fast bowlers, there is definitely a need for a fifth bowling option to share the workload. While the No.6 spot in the Australian team has been up for the grabs, but there isn't any clarity who will make up the squad.

There are contenders, like Moises Henriques, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Marsh and Cartwright, if the selectors prefer an All-rounder rather than an extra batsman at No.6, and the next two rounds of the shield games will decide, who will grab the opportunity.

"It's always nice having that allrounder to maybe bowl five or six overs throughout the day. I think the way Gaz has bowled over the last 12-18 months has been fantastic and he's been shouldering the workload if it does get put upon the quicks. But for balance you want runs and wickets from that No. 6 batter ... you could go either way, Hazlewood said as per quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

Hazlewood, who’s rehabilitation taken more time than expected, has missed the first round of the shield game for NSW and, now he will be part of the stateside for the next two rounds. But Strac and Pat Cummins won't be part of the third round as they were part of first round.

"The other guys played last week and this week and I think they're having a rest for game three," Hazlewood said. "I'm playing game three since I missed the first one. It's a good build-up, two Shield games before the first Test, and hopefully get through the first Test as well. Ideally you'd want to play the same as Mitch and Pat, the first two, but I don't see it as much of a big deal, we'll just bowl a little bit less in the nets leading into it if we bowl a bit more in the game.

"It feels really good, it's got better every session from when I started bowling probably four or five weeks ago, it feels good now, nice and strong, so hopefully it stays that way. Very close to, if not, 100%."