Heavy workload no problem for Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood believes he is as fit as he has been all season as he gears up to play his sixth Test of the summer.

Josh Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood believes he is as fit as he has been all season ahead of his sixth Test this summer. (AAP)

Undeterred by his wicketless effort at the MCG, Australian quick Josh Hazlewood believes he is in the best shape he has been all season as he gears up for his sixth and final Test of the summer.

There was talk the 24-year-old might be rested for the third and final Test against West Indies starting at the SCG on Sunday, but an injury to Peter Siddle is likely to scupper those plans.

Siddle remains in doubt with an ankle complaint, with Hazlewood likely to lead a home side attack featuring two spinners in Nathan Lyon and Stephen O'Keefe.

"I'm feeling pretty good, that extra day really helped, finishing (the second Test) on day four, I still got through quite a few overs but the body has pulled up pretty well," Hazlewood said on Friday.

"I had a light bowl today and everything is feeling pretty good. I'm feeling as ready to go as I have for all the other Test matches this summer."

"I bowled reasonably well in different spells and not so well in other spells (at the MCG), that happens every now and then. My body is feeling as good as it has all summer and I am ready to go.

Hazlewood said his workload during the limited over fixtures would be watched closely. The Australian squad for the One Day International series against India will be named during the SCG Test.

"I guess I will just play it by ear as we go along," he said.

"It depends how much I bowl in the next Test match and how I pull up, it would be difficult to play every (limited overs) game, we will have to pick and choose."

Australian great Glenn McGrath, who Hazlewood has been consistently compared with, was impressed with how he was developing.

"He's consistent, he's getting ball in the right area and he's doing a great job for Australia and I'm really proud of what he's achieved," McGrath said.

"He's getting better all the time. He wants to lead the attack - he got the opportunity in Adelaide - and he did an incredible job.

"So I'd like to see him playing out here (at the SCG). I think he'd like to be playing (and) they've had a few days off this series so the workload's not too high."


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Source: AAP


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