Brisbane, Nov. 30 : New Zealand cricketing great Richard Hadlee has said different bowling styles in the short form of the game could be behind injuries plaguing Australia''s young fast bowlers.

Australia has been forced to blood a new pace attack in the first Test against New Zealand in Brisbane tomorrow because of injuries to quicks Mitchell Johnson, Pat Cummins, Ryan Harris and Shane Watson.

Speaking at the University of Queensland Cricket Club''s Annual Test Breakfast, Hadlee said the short game could cause the injuries to young bowlers.

Hadlee, who had one of the most fluid fast bowling actions in cricket''s history, said bowlers forced wide to jam the ball into batsmen''s pads were now suffering injuries.

''''If you are what I call a classical out swing or leg cutter bowler, getting in close to the stumps - which you do more in the longer version of the game bowling wicket to wicket
- well, bio-mechanically, you are going to be more efficient,'''' The Age quoted Hadlee, as saying.

''''But once you get into one-day cricket, particularly when you are bowling at the death [tail of the innings], you are bowling wide of the crease. You tend to open up a little bit and force the ball in to middle and middle and leg. You are putting a different stress on the body and that may take its toll and cause a reaction,'''' he added.

He said Australia would have to look hard at its reserves in the fast bowling stakes.

''''Perhaps now, you (Australia) are going to be tested, there is no question about that,'''' he said.

Now 60, Hadlee took 431 wickets in 86 Test matches, including 9-52 against Australia at the Gabba in the 1985 series, won by New Zealand when he took 33 wickets. (ANI)