Australia's prized pace trio is set to be split for the one-day internationals with selectors looking to rest their star quicks in order to have them cherry ripe for South Africa.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It's unclear when that break will come but it's almost certain Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will not play all five matches against England. Despite their checkered injury history, they have missed only one match between them this series.
The six-day gap between the end of the Sydney Test and game one in Melbourne on Sunday week will help them recover but risks will not be taken with such important players.
Selectors will need to find the right balance between prioritising the medium-term goal of winning in South Africa with the long-term aim of defending their World Cup next year. Cricket Australia's marketing department, however, will find it easier to sell the upcoming series if star players are not resting at home.
But those interests are likely to come second to those of the national team.
Cummins, who has played all five Tests in his first series on home soil, believes he can also get through the one-dayers, though the decision will not be his to make.
"We might rest from one or two of the early ones, don't know yet," Cummins said.
"It takes a little bit to get over each Test but once you're over a Test you're ready to start bowling. Ten overs of an ODI is a bit easier than a Test match.
"Hopefully get a week or two resting up but then I've got to start bowling some time. Hopefully it's in the one-dayers."
Although it's clear what Australia's first-choice pace attack is, selectors are still open-minded about the support acts.
Speedster Jhye Richardson and Twenty20 star Andrew Tye will get opportunities to impress.
Richardson secured his spot after being the joint leading wicket-taker in the JLT Cup. The 21-year-old turned heads in a Shield game against NSW at the start of the season when he was clocked at 148 km/h, topping Australia's Test attack.
Tye has become one of the best bowlers in the Big Bash League, where his variations have proven hard to get away. The 31-year-old, however, has so far been unable to translate that form into the international arena.
Australia are struggling in the 50-over game with only one win from their past eight completed matches. They bowed out of the Champions Trophy in the group stage and were hammered in India.
The reigning world champions have slipped to third in the ICC rankings with another fall likely should they fail to beat England, which have overhauled their team since their poor showing at the last World Cup.
