Hazlewood eager to join Cummins as a must-pick Aussie quick

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Hazlewood eager to join Cummins as a must-pick Aussie quick

By Sam Phillips

Josh Hazlewood has one goal for the Test summer: join Pat Cummins as a must-pick Australian quick.

Cummins, ranked the world's No.1 fast bowler in the ICC's Test rankings, was the only Australian pace ace to feature in all five Ashes Tests.

Josh Hazlewood wants to play every Test of the Australian summer.

Josh Hazlewood wants to play every Test of the Australian summer.Credit: AP

Coach Justin Langer rotated the rest throughout the series, though Hazlewood played in the final four Tests.

If Hazlewood has his way, he will join Cummins in the must-pick category.

"These Tests are a bit more spread out than the English ones but I want to play every Test, no doubt," Hazlewood said at Kayo's summer of cricket launch in Sydney.

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"Patty is bowling exceptionally well at the moment. He’s obviously a lock. I’d love to be in that category for sure.

"We have a lot of fast bowlers up and running at the moment, which is fantastic, and it builds pressure on guys that are in there. But it depends on each game.

"If there are a couple of games where you bowl huge overs, then you make a call one way. If you get through with 35 or 40 overs, you’re all good."

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Hazlewood's brilliant bowling through his four Ashes Tests will help his case for selection this summer but he may have a fight on his hands given Mitchell Starc's return to form for NSW last week.

The left-arm quick tore Tasmania to pieces on his way to match figures of 10-60.

Mitchell Starc returned to form in stunning fashion last week.

Mitchell Starc returned to form in stunning fashion last week.Credit: AAP

James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Michael Neser will also be in the mix for selection when Australia face Pakistan at the Gabba on November 21.

"[Starc's] awesome. Especially on those wickets where no one else gets anything out of them, those low, slow wickets. He’s just fantastic," Hazlewood said.

"Just that genuine air speed. He bowls nice and full. Little bit of reverse swing. Little bit of natural up and down. When he comes into his own on those sort of wickets, he’s perfect.

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"Air speed comes into it a lot in Australia, where the wickets are pretty flat. I think his record in Australia is phenomenal. You always want that different sort of variety in the attack."

Hazlewood will play his first match since returning from England when NSW face Tasmania in the Marsh One-Day Cup at North Sydney Oval on Wednesday.

Fellow Australian stars Steve Smith, Cummins, Dave Warner, Starc and Nathan Lyon will also pull on the sky-blue kit.

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