Australian pace-bowling stalwart Josh Hazlewood is confident young quick Lance Morris is moving closer to a Test debut, given the extra pace and accuracy he can bring to the side. (More Cricket News)
🔯Morris is in the Australian squad for the third Test against South Africa and his chances for selection have been brightened by the absence of all-rounder Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc, both of whom suffered serious finger injuries during the Boxing Day Test.
▨While the SCG wicket traditionally favours spin, the forecast of rain could tilt the selection in favour of a tearaway bowler, and Hazlewood suggested Morris is a suitable candidate for the job.
𒁃Hazlewood, returning to the side after missing three successive Tests due to a side strain, said he is impressed with Morris' pace.
🃏"Lance obviously brings that extra pace that we probably lack with (Mitchell) Starcy (injured)," Hazlewood was quoted as saying by abc.net.au on Monday.
🌞"Usually when you get that in a youngster (bowler), they spray them around a bit, but his accuracy is very good for that sort of pace. There's quite a number of guys on my 'not-facing list' (in the nets) and he's at the top of the tree," added Hazlewood.
🍰The 24-year-old Morris is one of the fastest bowlers in the country, being nicknamed 'Wild Thing' but for all his pace, he has never been included in a Test side.
🐓Morris could be a like-for-like replacement for Starc at Sydney, though the competition for the limited slots doesn't guarantee him a spot.
💝"Everyone's battling everyone at the moment. It's good to have options. We're all a little bit different," Hazlewood said.
ꦚOn whether he was confident of being slotted in the playing XI for the Sydney Test, the 31-year-old Hazlewood indicated a return from injury always make things a bit uncertain.
൩"I guess that's what happens when you miss out with injury, you give other people an opportunity and they take it," he said. "I think that's how I got my first go with Ryan Harris sitting out and Peter Siddle injured.
ꦍ"You get your opportunity then you put pressure on the older guys. I feel like that just comes and goes as your career goes along. I'd be definitely disappointed if I missed out," he said.
