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Hogg wants selectors to rest Aussie bowlers

Rodney Hogg has declared Australia’s pace attack is “as good as we’ve ever had”, calling on selectors to consider resting some of their most important assets now the Ashes have been won.

Dec 21, 2017, updated Dec 21, 2017
Former Australian bowler Rodney Hogg says South Autralian Chadd Sayers deserves a Test. Photo: AAP/George Salpigtidis

Former Australian bowler Rodney Hogg says South Autralian Chadd Sayers deserves a Test. Photo: AAP/George Salpigtidis

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have played pivotal roles in Australia taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the ongoing Test series.

Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins remain keen to play all five Tests and secure another whitewash, following in the footsteps of Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle four years ago.

But it appears increasingly likely that will not happen.

Starc has a bruised heel and remains in doubt for next week’s Boxing Day clash, with Jackson Bird in the mix to play his first Test of the summer.

Cummins, who has now played seven Tests in a row after almost six years of injury hell, admitted prior to the start of the series that “five Tests in a summer is pretty brutal … it’s a bit of an unknown”.

Former Australia paceman Hogg has no issue with the idea of Australia wrapping Starc and Cummins in cotton wool for the final Test of the summer.

“It (the pace attack) is as a good as we’ve ever had. These young guns can bowl us back to world No.1,” Hogg told AAP at the 39th annual Jack Newton Celebrity Classic in the Hunter Valley.

“We got to look after those three quicks. Starc’s had a few injuries and Cummins has to be protected a bit.

“I know it’s a Test match in Sydney but we have to look after these kids because they are superstars, aren’t they?”

Hogg suggested reserve pacemen Bird and Chadd Sayers plus Victorian spinner Jon Holland should be given a chance to shine in Sydney.

“I reckon Sayers, Bird and Holland deserve a Test,” he said.

“Let them have a run because you’re only ever as good as your depth.”

Hogg also gave England a clip for their lack of grit in the first three Tests.

“They haven’t shown anything so far,” he said.

“They just want to go home now.”

– AAP

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