“The million-dollar question”: Who is Australia’s next Test quick behind Boland?

With Josh Hazlewood going down with injury in Brisbane, Australia’s bowling stocks could be tested this summer.

While Scott Boland looks certain to replace him at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test, Cricket Australia confirmed that a new player or players will be added to the squad once Hazlewood goes out.

Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott were brought into the squad for the second Test in Adelaide, but with Melbourne and Sydney both red-ball Tests, the selectors could look elsewhere at other options.

With that in mind, SEN Cricket’s Tom Morris and Bharat Sundaresan discussed Australia’s fast-bowling depth, with three-Test quick Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris, who has been a member of Test squads previously, potentially at the top of the list.

Morris: “With Hazlewood out, Scott Boland comes in for the MCG, but who’s the next quick?”

Sundaresan: “That's the million-dollar question. We see Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson playing in the BBL.

“Two summers ago, Lance Morris - The Wild Thing - it looked like he was ready. He was there and everybody was excited about giving him the baggy green.

“That hasn't been the case, and since he's been injured. He was there as part of the India tour last year in early 2023 … but obviously on those pitches you needed the three spinners.

“But I mean there are a few options, it's not that there's nobody out there. Look around Shield cricket and young Fergus O'Neill.”

Morris: “I like Fergus O'Neill, he's a leading wicket-taker in the Shield. It's just whether they're able and willing to select a bowler who bowls 130 km/h, not 135-140 km/h. That's the big question.”

Sundaresan: “There’s my man Michael Neser, but unfortunately for Neser and Boland, they’re in that 35-age bracket.

“Outside of that there are these young fast bowlers … Jordan Buckingham from South Australia has been very impressive as well.”

Morris: “Xavier Bartlett as well … Spencer Johnson, they'd love to get him in I reckon at some stage.”

Sundaresan: “There are options, it's not that there aren't too many, but it feels like they were more who are closer to getting a Test cap two summers ago than they are now.”

Cricket Australia will announce a squad for the MCG following the completion of the Brisbane Test.

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