Josh Hazlewood addresses the elephant in the room

THERE’S no sugar-coating it, Australia has a serious problem to address — and this star’s backhand might be what they need.

Cmon guys.

AUSSIE fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has delivered a veiled swipe to his teammates after a woeful tour of the subcontinent saw the tourists put under the cricketing pump by India and Bangladesh.

The Aussies were downed 4-1 by the Indians in their ODI series after being embarrassed by Bangladesh in their first Test loss to the Tigers in cricketing history.

Hazlewood had to pull out of the series after pulling up with a side strain just seven balls into his first spell. His departure meant Pat Cummins, Australia’s last standing seamer, had to pick up the rest of the baggy green’s pace duties for the match.

“(The conditions) were just unreal,” Hazlewood told Sky’s Big Sports Breakfast. “The humidity just saps you. The first session in the morning really put (us) behind the Eight ball all day ... it was pretty full-on.”

With the extra load added on their bowling stocks in searing heat, the Aussies needed their batsmen to fire more than ever.

Unfortunately for them, two signature subcontinent batting collapses followed.

All of Australia’s batsmen, bar David Warner’s superb 112 in the second innings, failed to pass 50 in the first Test in Dhaka. Expert use of spin by Bangladesh’s tweakers saw the Aussies skittled for 217 and 244 as the tourists were shamefully put on display by the plucky home side.

The Aussies bounced back in the second Test in Chittagong, leaving the series at a 1-1 draw, but the ugly picture painted by the historic flop in Dhaka had highlighted a clear problem in the Test team.

These two must have sore backs after all the carrying they’ve been doing.

Hazlewood said his countrymen had to pick up their game with the bat if they want to make a mark on England in this summer’s upcoming Ashes series, putting pressure on the baggy green’s junior players to make a move.

“When they put up those stats up of hundreds scored over the last three or four years, it really does show that Smith and Warner score the bulk of those,” Hazlewood said.

“I think it’s a case of a couple of young guys standing up.

“It’s going to be a big series for Usman Khawaja. He’s obviously fantastic on home soil, he’s very confident of his ability here.”

Hazlewood said newcomers Peter Handscomb and Matthew Renshaw needed to take some of their two skippers’ shoulders.

“I think Handscomb and Renshaw can hopefully stand up and put some big scores on the board. Take that bit of pressure off the skipper and vice-captain.”

Meanwhile, England will come to Australia with a strong side and a burning vengeance to pay back Australia for their horror 5-0 thrashing in 2013-14.

“They’ve got a couple of experienced guys at the top with Root and Cook, but there’s obviously some gaps there which are well documented,” Hazlewood said.

“The extra pressure falls on Bairstow and Stokes, if he ends up coming, and senior bowlers.

“There’s a few gaps there in the top-order that we can hopefully exploit and put that extra pressure on those experienced guys.

“Stokes adds some balance to the team but whether he comes out or not is out of our control.”

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood has urged his side to pick up the game.