Australian pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood has defended team's decision to rest him from the ill-fated tour of South Africa, pointing to the taxing summer ahead.
The Proteas completed a humiliating series whitewash in the fifth ODI in Cape Town, giving them a huge boost ahead of their tour of Australia for a three Test series starting in Perth in next month.
Hazlewood was flown home early during the limited overs leg of the tour of Sri Lanka after Australia was crushed 3-0 in the Test series.
While Australia's relatively inexperienced bowling attack struggled in South Africa, Hazlewood stayed home to ensure he will be fresh for Test series against the Proteas and Pakistan.
Hazlewood said it was the right move with a heavy schedule over the next four months.
"Sri Lanka was a long tour physically and mentally," Hazlewood said.
"And with a lot of cricket coming up I think the rest was valid."
He admitted it was hard watching the series loss in South Africa.
But he backed the Australians to bounce back when they host the Proteas, with the first of three Tests beginning on November 3 at the WACA.
"It gives us a lot of motivation," Hazlewood said.
"There's a lot of change to the teams from Test cricket to one-day cricket.
"There will be a few guys there carrying what happened but there will be a lot of fresh faces."
Hazlewood will return to action via NSW in their one-day cup clash with Queensland on Friday.
