THE ASHES, 2017-18

Coulter-Nile can expose England's fragilities: Hazlewood

by Cricbuzz Staff • Published on

Josh Hazlewood joined in the Ashes banter as he backed Nathan Coulter-Nile to turn up the heat on the English in a two-day match © Getty

Josh Hazlewood, the Australian paceman, believes Western Australian quick Nathan Coulter-Nile can expose England's batting fragilities ahead of the first Ashes Test starting on November 23.

England start their Ashes tour on Saturday (November 4) with a two-day match against a weakened WA XI side at the WACA. However, the in-form Coulter-Nile, who is seen as an Ashes contender, will be captaining the WA XI team in a severe initiation for England's maligned batsmen.

Coulter-Nile was deemed a surprise selection as it was assumed he would line up in WA's concurrent Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales in Sydney. However, Hazlewood, who will be making a return for NSW in the Shield following a side strain injury, hoped Coulter-Nile would cause some early psychological problems for England.

"I probably see it (Coulter-Nile playing for the WA XI) more as a positive," he said at the SCG on Thursday (November 2). "Maybe he can crack open a few guys early and create a few scars I guess in their top order and middle order. It will be their first real hit-out in Australia ... that's obviously their plan, to jump straight into it on the bounciest and quickest wicket.

"To have a guy like Coults there to warm them up and maybe create a few scars would be nice," he added.

With the first Test at the Gabba, a renowned bouncy deck, Hazlewood forecast his pace comrades Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins would test England with a barrage of bouncers.

"That's why I always bowl when they're bowling in the nets, I don't have to face them," he joked. "On that Gabba wicket, you always want to use it to its advantage. They're not going to be scared of me or Nathan (Lyon), but the other two bowlers put fear into the batsmen. That's part of their game, bowling fast and bowling short on occasions.

"They can take three or four really quick ones and really crack the game wide open," he added.

It will be the first time Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins will feature in a Test match together after years of anticipation. Darren Lehmann, the Australian coach, has likened the trio to the legendary West Indies' pace attacks of yesteryear.

Hazlewood said he was excited to be part of the trio, who have played together for Australia in white ball cricket and will form NSW's attack against WA in the Shield.

"We don't really talk about it too much (playing together in Tests). I guess because it hasn't happened," he said. "It's great to get both of them together and we've got a pretty good record when we're all together."

© Cricbuzz

TAGS

RELATED STORIES