Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle Face Fitness Concerns Ahead of Final Sydney Test Against West Indies
Australia's bowling attack for Sunday's third Test against the West Indies is far from settled, with Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle finishing the Melbourne win sore and in doubt.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: December 29, 2015 04:34 PM IST
![Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle Face Fitness Concerns Ahead of Final Sydney Test Against West Indies](https://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2014/dec/806/mitchell-marsh-australia.jpg)
The demands of bowling Australia to series victory in Tuesday's second Test may have repercussions with pacemen Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle struggling to be fit for the final Sydney Test against the West Indies on Sunday. (Australia Defeat West Indies By 177 Runs, Take Unbeatable 2-0 Lead In Series)
Australia's attack for Sunday's third Test is far from settled, with Hazlewood and Siddle finishing the Melbourne win sore and in doubt. (Justin Langer To Fill In For Darren Lehmann As Coach for Australia in 2016 West Indies Tri-Series)
The pace pair will be assessed when the Test squad trains in Sydney on Friday ahead of the Sydney Cricket Ground Test. (Australia in Transition Have a Battle on Their Hands Against Ever-Improving Indians)
Hazlewood's workloads have been under scrutiny throughout the New Zealand and Windies series over the last two months and he failed to take a wicket in the Melbourne Test.
Siddle has an ankle problem and was well down on pace in bowling just nine overs on the fourth day at the MCG.
"I've no idea at this stage, I haven't really had a chance to talk to the medical staff yet," skipper Steve Smith said, when asked about Siddle's chances of making the Sydney Test.
"But he was able to get through and get the job done, I just thought today it was best not using him much late in the day to try to get him a bit of a rest."
On Hazlewood's chances, Smith added: "It's obviously a pretty short turnaround between games so we'll wait and see how he pulls up and we'll see what the best team is when we get to Sydney and see what the wicket is like."
One option could be using all-rounder Mitchell Marsh more in Sydney after his impressive four for 61 off 17.3 overs.
"Yeah, it's very possible. I think when he's in a good rhythm he's as good as any of the bowlers around the country at the moment, and he hit that rhythm today," Smith said.
Smith raised the prospect of Steven O'Keefe playing as a second spinner at his home ground.
"It'd be good to see a second spinner play and see what he's got to offer," the skipper said.
"If the conditions are going to suit... there's a pretty good chance we could see a second spinner playing.
"We go to Sri Lanka later in the year, where there is a good chance we'll see two spinners playing - or in the touring party."