Rotation inevitable in Ashes: Hazlewood

Recovering Test quick Josh Hazlewood says it is "near impossible" for Australia's fast bowlers to play all five Ashes Tests this year given the extremely tight schedule.

Australia play five Tests and two tour matches in less than seven weeks in this winter's Ashes tour directly after their World Cup campaign in the UK.

"The last four Tests are back-to-back," Hazlewood told The Unplayable Podcast.

"I think it's going to be near impossible for any quicks to play all five as well with it being such a tight schedule."

The claustrophobic fixture leaves little time for rest for Australia's Ashes pace attack, which is likely to include several members racing against the clock to be fit for the World Cup.

If form and fitness hold true, Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and Pat Cummins are expected to feature in both the World Cup and Ashes squads, leaving them just one practice match, against Australia A in Southampton, before the first Test against England in Birmingham from August 1.

While a diet of white ball cricket before the Ashes is not ideal preparation, Hazlewood says playing at the highest level will have him and his teammates ready to face Joe Root's side.

"I think while ever you're playing international cricket that's the best preparation you can have," Hazlewood said.

"Whether it's a different format or not, the intensity is right up and you can't be off your game in those circumstances.

"In saying that, you'd love a few more games with the Dukes ball beforehand to work on a few things.

"I think we've got one four-day game between those two tournaments and a couple of training sessions.

"It's going to be a pretty quick turnaround."

Hazlewood toured England in 2015, playing in the first four Tests before a shin injury ruled him out of the series finale at The Oval.

It was a steep learning curve for the then Test rookie, who says his body let him down as England won the Ashes 3-2 with a Test to spare.

Having experienced Ashes cricket in England, the right-armer says the pace attack must be chosen to match the conditions – both the pitch and atmospherically – of each venue in order to retain the urn.

Which could mean breaking up the 'Big Three' of Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins.

"I think picking the attack is picking the conditions," Hazlewood said.

"You might go with different quicks on different grounds.

"I remember last time with the two Mitches (express left-armers Johnson and Starc), they were predominantly the same bowler – both quick, both aggressive, both could leak runs on certain days, so it was quite tough to bowl with them sometimes.

"Whereas if you're bowling with a Peter Siddle or someone like that, even a Pat Cummins, it's just different variables come into practice.

"It's about picking the right bowlers for the right conditions."