The rapidity of Australia’s non-stop summer can be ‘out there’

Last summer they were helped by the bowling conditions at home and in New Zealand where none of the seven matches entered the fifth day. In just three innings Australia needed to bowl more than 78 overs which helped them stay fresh.

But India’s powerful batting line-up represents a different challenge as Australia are expected to go all out in the upcoming five-match series played in seven weeks. There are doubts as to whether Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood can repeat what they did last season and play the rest of what should be a grueling series.

Australia’s pace depth has been tested with many fringe bowlers returning from injury. Quick Lance Morris, who has not played at Test level but has been a regular in the last few years, has been affected by injury after picking up a quad strain in training recently but should be back before the end of the month.

“If you look at the quicks last year we were determined they could play every Test and they did,” George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors, said on Monday.

“That may have been an outlier and this summer we will be ready if we need to make changes in the summer we are ready to go.”

“A guy like Cam started in Shield cricket as a bowler but he hasn’t had to bowl loads in Tests. Now he’s a few years older, I think we’ll lean on him a bit more,” Cummins said in August.

If the selectors decide on a similar replacement then Aaron Hardie and Beau Webster will be in the squad. Hardie did not play in the opening round of the Shield due to a quad injury sustained at the end of the England tour, but will return for WA’s next game against Tasmania at the WACA starting on October 20.

Bailey believed that having an all-rounder was a “luxury” rather than a necessity. “Even looking at the three quicks that we usually play in Test cricket, they have played a lot of Test cricket together when they don’t have an all-rounder,” he said.

“I think it certainly depends on the staff there. Guess the role played by Cam and Mitch that they were able to hold the place after their hit and they think it’s still the most important thing in that. top six.

“He will continue to prepare Mitch Marsh to bowl the overs as well, that has been part of his management over the last few months.”

The Australian team carefully managed a number of quick matches ahead of the India series, with Cummins missing the entire white-ball tour of England to give him a break from bowling.

Cummins is unlikely to play a Shield match before the India series and will instead prepare by leading Australia in their ODI series against Pakistan. But Hazlewood and Starc will play in at least one Shield match before the Pakistan series.

“Obviously Pat was prepared, but if you look at the Test team from the end of last year and their growth leading up to the first Test this year, everyone’s been blown away,” Bailey said.

“There is always an eye on each individual as to what their best preparations are for any Test summer. I think the rise of franchise cricket means there are more opportunities and temptations for players to fill gaps.

“Pat, Mitch and Josh have been amazing in how they can pick and choose which franchises they play in. And they always give themselves good breaks when they have to.”