Hazlewood returns for Darwin Test; Carey to stay at No. 6

Australia's first-choice pace attack will reunite for the first time in more than a year after Josh Hazlewood was preferred over Scott Boland for the opening Test against Bangladesh in Darwin. Pat Cummins confirmed Hazlewood's return to international cricket for the first time since October last year, after an injury ruled him out of the entire Ashes series.

Cummins himself featured in only one Ashes Test and has not played for Australia since the series against the West Indies more than a year ago. Nathan Lyon also returned to the XI after his Ashes campaign was cut short by a hamstring injury sustained in Adelaide.

"I think we were pretty certain we wanted Lyno [Lyon] inside, so just kind of working out what the make-up of the quicks were," Cummins said about the combination. "So went with Joshy, [we] obviously know Scotty's class. It's always a pretty tight call. I think it's one of those ones where there's not much you can say to Scotty other than obviously there's a lot of cricket coming up, but he knows his worth and how good he is, and I'm sure he'll be out there at some point pretty soon."

Lyon's return is a significant boost for Australia getting into a busy period of Test cricket after the veteran offspinner played a key role in Adelaide before his injury ended his Ashes campaign. He had also been rested for two day-night Tests last year.

"I was even looking at some footage the other day of that Adelaide Test, and I think that's the best he's bowled in years," Cummins said. "So it [the injury] was really bad timing but he's been great. It's been pretty public how hard he's worked over the last six months or so. He's in there every day training, looking for this opportunity. So he looks in incredible shape. He's been bowling beautifully, and as a captain and team-mate, it's going to be awesome to have him back out there."

Cummins also confirmed that Cameron Green and Beau Webster will bat at Nos. 5 and 7 respectively, with Alex Carey retaining his place at No. 6 despite the keeper-bat recently putting his hand up for a promotion in the order. Jake Weatherald will continue as Travis Head's opening partner, a combination that was formed early in the Ashes.

"Kez [Carey] has won a few games for us at No. 6. I like that combination of him and Webster at six, seven," Cummins said. "I feel like Greeny's a good No. 5, so you can try and get funky, but we thought that's kind of how the team will function the best. It's a pretty good problem to have when someone like Kez, you feel like a good bat even higher than where he's at."

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