Aussies' fast-bowling talent to be tested

When the dust settles on a memorable Test victory in Adelaide, and Australia's selectors and team management assess the fallout from a hard-fought series with a competitive New Zealand, the fast-bowling situation is likely to make sobering reading.

Mitchell Johnson – retired.

Mitchell Starc – injured.

Josh Hazlewood – hitting maximum bowling loads.

Peter Siddle – "a flare-up in his back".

Fast-bowling coach Craig McDermott said today that Starc would likely aim for a return in New Zealand next February, effectively ruling him out of the forthcoming three-Test series against West Indies, beginning in Hobart on December 10.

Watch: Starc forced off with injury

McDermott mentioned James Pattinson as the likely candidate to replace the left-armer, and also suggested West Australian quick Nathan Coulter-Nile could be in the frame for a Test debut against the Windies.

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Tasmania paceman Jackson Bird, who was hot property only a couple of years ago and impressed in three Tests before enduring a lengthy injury layoff, took 5-69 against the Redbacks today in a timely return to form.

"It's nice to come back and feel like I'm bowling as good as what I was when I first got picked for Australia," Bird said.

"It's good timing to get some wickets, but there are a lot of good bowlers around at the moment.

"Until I get the phone call I won't be losing any sleep."

Coulter-Nile or Bird could even find themselves alongside Pattinson in the squad for the first Test against the West Indies, to be named Tuesday morning, after captain Steve Smith said that a decision would have to be made on when to rest Hazlewood.

The New South Wales quick bowled 42.1 overs in the day-night Test, taking nine wickets in a man-of-the-match performance, and despite his insistence yesterday that he was fit and capable of playing the entire summer, the visit of a weak West Indies side shapes as an ideal opportunity for him to be rested.

Watch: Hazlewood hunts Black Caps

Smith admitted Australia's much-vaunted reservoir of fast-bowling talent would be put to perhaps the sternest test he has seen in his time with the national side.

"Yeah, quite possibly," he said. "It was tough to lose someone of the calibre of Mitchell Johnson, and Mitchell Starc has been bowling exceptionally well.

"So it was nice to see Josh Hazlewood step up and really bowl well in this game, it will give him a lot of confidence going forward, but he's had a big workload over the last little bit as well, so we're going to have to look at that – we don't want to break him.

"We've got a lot of cricket coming up in the next couple of months so there might be a little bit of a mixed load amongst a couple of players."

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Coach Darren Lehmann confirmed that Hazlewood's place in the side for the Adelaide Test had been no fait accompli, however the National Selection Panel was in fact reviewing his position for form reasons.

"He wasn't always going to play," Lehmann told cricket.com.au's Stumps show. "We talked about it, because we thought he'd just come off the boil a little bit.

"I think what sold us was his new-ball bowling in the second innings in Perth, when he bowled beautifully.

"The (Adelaide) wicket had a bit more grass on it, and he's more of a seam bowler than say James Pattinson. That's probably the reason we ended up going with Josh.

"He was confident and there were no problems with his body, it was more of a case of making sure he starting hitting the deck properly, and he did that beautifully."

Siddle's back issue was evidenced today from the opening delivery, when he didn't let the ball go and appeared to pull up sore in his follow-through.

Quick single: Smith, Lehmann praise plucky OSS

He bowled a one-over spell before returning with a back brace and seemingly bowling untroubled, and was again in the centre of the action as he hit the winning runs at day's end.

Watch: The thrilling final moments of Australia's win

Smith was less concerned about Siddle's immediate future, suggesting the 200-Test wicket man would be available for the first Test against the Windies in 10 days' time.

"He's had a bit of a flare-up in his back in the last couple of days (and) he's done a terrific job to be able to fight through that," the skipper said.

"It's just a little spasm. He slipped in the first innings, and just jolted it a little bit. He was able to get through and still bowl well, so with a 10-day break I think he'll be OK."