Peter Siddle shouldn't be judged too harshly for his recent flop in Adelaide but the time is right for Josh Hazlewood to make his Test debut for Australia, according to former selector Andy Bichel.
Siddle has been axed for the second Test against India in Brisbane after returning match figures of 2-109 at Adelaide Oval last week.
Hazlewood has been parachuted into the side for the second Test, which starts at the Gabba on Wednesday.
Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc is also in, with Siddle dropped and Ryan Harris injured.
Bichel, who was an Australian selector until he was replaced in May this year, is confident 23-year-old Hazlewood has all the hallmarks to succeed in Test cricket after impressing in 27 first-class matches plus a handful of ODIs and T20Is.
"He's ready now," Bichel said.
"He did well in the Australia A stuff last year. He was the leading bowler in that series. He's played some one-day cricket for Australia, and he did well for NSW in the back-end of last season in the Shield games.
"He took that responsibility of taking more wickets up front and also coming back for the crucial overs when they needed a wicket. He's well groomed for Test cricket."
Bichel revealed he had even tried to lure Hazlewood from NSW to Queensland when the 196cm paceman was just 17.
"Trevor Barsby was the coach, and he got me to ring Josh's mum and dad to ask if they wanted to come to Queensland," Bichel said.
"But it wasn't long after that he played his first game for NSW."
Siddle was sick during the first innings in Adelaide last week, and he only bowled nine overs during the second dig as spinner Nathan Lyon weaved his magic.
Bichel snared just 10 wickets in his four Tests at the batsman-friendly Adelaide Oval, and said critics shouldn't judge Siddle to harshly on last week's performance.
"You can't go reading into that too much," Bichel said.
"It's an unforgiving place, especially in the first innings.
"Everyone prefers to bowl at the Gabba where there's lots of bounce."
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