By Chris Barrett
Having begun the home summer with the pace trio of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, Australia's fast bowling contingent may well be entirely unrecognisable when they resume on Thursday week against the West Indies in Hobart.
The squad for the first of three matches against the eighth-ranked Test side will be announced on Tuesday, and with selectors having been tasked with identifying a replacement for injured Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson should return along with one of Jackson Bird or Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Pattinson and the other newcomer could end up both playing as well as Australia takes a cautious approach with the workload of the man of the match in Adelaide, Hazlewood, who captain Steve Smith said on Sunday night Australia had to be careful not to "break". With Johnson now retired a well-earned rest for Hazlewood would leave the Australian attack with an completely new look.
Meanwhile, Ian Healy says Peter Nevill would be a more than competent Test No.6 but doesn't believe the foreshadowed promotion of the wicketkeeper up the order for the series against the West Indies shapes as a long-term solution to shore up the middle order.
Heavy lifting: Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood.Credit: Getty Images
The Australian head coach, Darren Lehmann, indicated after Australia completed a 2-0 series win over New Zealand that Smith had discussed moving Nevill, who top-scored in the the hosts' first innings in Adelaide with 66, ahead of all-rounder Mitchell Marsh when the international summer resumes in Hobart on Thursday week. While Marsh contributed an important 28 as Australia composed themselves sufficiently to reach a winning target of 187 on Sunday the jury remains out on him as a No.6 Test batsman. Nevill, in contrast, is fast proving himself a safe pair of hands not only behind the stumps.
"The captain has talked about that, maybe for the next Test against the West Indies, depending on the make up of the side and whether Mitch Marsh stays in or whatever the selection is there," Lehmann told the ABC when asked about a possible Nevill promotion.
Test 'keeping great Healy has no doubt that Nevill would provide value for Australia if he batted ahead of Marsh while the 24-year-old continues to find his feet at the top level. "He could certainly hold his own as a Test No.6. It wouldn't be a long-term thing I think," Healy said of the NSW gloveman. "Mitch Marsh will get there and he took another step (on Sunday) night. He'll probably enjoy the No.7. (Nevill) is organised, enthusiastic and hungry so I don't think we would lose anything from that."
Australia (likely squad): Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.