Lance Morris moving closer to Australia Test berth, says Josh Hazlewood

Morris
is
in
the
Australian
squad
for
the
third
Test
against
South
Africa
and
his
chances
for
selection
have
been
brightened
by
the
absence
of
all-rounder
Cameron
Green
and
Mitchell
Starc,
both
of
whom
suffered
serious
finger
injuries
during
the
Boxing
Day
Test.

While
the
SCG
wicket
traditionally
favours
spin,
the
forecast
of
rain
could
tilt
the
selection
in
favour
of
a
tearaway
bowler,
and
Hazlewood
suggested
Morris
is
a
suitable
candidate
for
the
job.

Hazlewood,
returning
to
the
side
after
missing
three
successive
Tests
due
to
a
side
strain,
said
he
is
impressed
with
Morris’ pace.

“Lance
obviously
brings
that
extra
pace
that
we
probably
lack
with
(Mitchell)
Starcy
(injured),”
Hazlewood
was
quoted
as
saying
by
abc.net.au
on
Monday
(January
2).

“Usually
when
you
get
that
in
a
youngster
(bowler),
they
spray
them
around
a
bit,
but
his
accuracy
is
very
good
for
that
sort
of
pace.
There’s
quite
a
number
of
guys
on
my
‘not-facing
list’
(in
the
nets)
and
he’s
at
the
top
of
the
tree,”
added
Hazlewood.

Matt
Renshaw
not
thinking
about
India,
hoping
to
make
good
impression
against
South
Africa

The
24-year-old
Morris
is
one
of
the
fastest
bowlers
in
the
country,
being
nicknamed
‘Wild
Thing’ but
for
all
his
pace,
he
has
never
been
included
in
a
Test
side.

Morris
could
be
a
like-for-like
replacement
for
Starc
at
Sydney,
though
the
competition
for
the
limited
slots
doesn’t
guarantee
him
a
spot.

“Everyone’s
battling
everyone
at
the
moment.
It’s
good
to
have
options.
We’re
all
a
little
bit
different,”
Hazlewood
said.

On
whether
he
was
confident
of
being
slotted
in
the
playing
XI
for
the
Sydney
Test,
the
31-year-old
Hazlewood
indicated
a
return
from
injury
always
make
things
a
bit
uncertain.

“I
guess
that’s
what
happens
when
you
miss
out
with
injury,
you
give
other
people
an
opportunity
and
they
take
it,”
he
said.

“I
think
that’s
how
I
got
my
first
go
with
Ryan
Harris
sitting
out
and
Peter
Siddle
injured.

“You
get
your
opportunity
then
you
put
pressure
on
the
older
guys.
I
feel
like
that
just
comes
and
goes
as
your
career
goes
along.
I’d
be
definitely
disappointed
if
I
missed
out,”
he
said.