Why Hazlewood’s latest issue is also Australia’s newest problem

Josh Hazlewood’s latest issue is also Australia’s newest problem.

In Hazlewood, Australia has an all-time great bowler who rightly plays whenever he is deemed fit.

The problem is, he won’t be fit for a while yet after Cricket Australia confirmed a calf strain on Tuesday afternoon.

And even when he is fit, there will be doubts over whether he can remain so.

His latest setback brings into sharp focus the need to safeguard for the future of the country’s bowling attack, a concern largely reserved for the batters in recent times.

The depth has traditionally been strong. In James Pattinson, Scott Boland, Michael Neser and Jhye Richardson the selectors have enjoyed an embarrassment of riches to call upon when any of the big three have gone down.

But times are-a-changin', probably sooner than any of us thought. And of the all-conquering Starc/Cummins/Hazlewood trio, the latter may be the first to go.

We now know Hazlewood, who turns 34 in three weeks, is unequivocally vulnerable. He’s not quite brittle, but he’s not far off.

In the last two years alone, he has missed four Tests with an Achilles injury, a further four with a side strain, and three T20 internationals with a calf injury.

Now, he will miss the next two matches with another calf sustained in the warm-up on Tuesday. He’d be long odds to travel to Sri Lanka. And even if he did, it’s debatable whether he’s in the best XI in those conditions, so don't risk it.

The McGrath-like metronome who looked so durable for so long is faltering. Does he go to the West Indies?

Does he commit to a full Indian Premier League for Royal Challengers Bengaluru?

The conservative answer is 'no' to both of the questions. If it is to be Hazlewood’s last hurrah next summer, you make sure he’s cherry ripe.

But this is not a likely scenario. Who are we to ask Hazlewood to say no to $2.3 million in the IPL? Who could blame him?

The World Test Championship final is a reasonable aim, followed by next summer’s Ashes.

The niggles are ugly. They are persistent. And presumably incredibly frustrating.

The future has arrived for Australia. Hazlewood is not yet done, but it's time to start looking at what's next rather than what we have.