Prada-wearing young gun knocking on door for Test debut

Australia will be without captain Pat Cummins for the start of the Ashes series - but all that has done is prove the enormous depth in the country's fast-bowling stocks.

While the talk has centred around the make-up of Australia's batting order, the stability in the bowling ranks is something that should have England nervous.

Cummins is expected to miss at least the first Test as he recovers from a back injury, but the hosts will lose very little with Scott Boland in line to replace him.

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Boland averages 16.53 with the ball in his Test career and his average on home soil is even lower, making for a seamless transition with the captain sidelined.

He will join Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon to form a quality attack in Perth and one that still clearly has what it takes to get the job done.

But even when you dig a little deeper, the Aussies are absolutely blessed should one of those three seamers become unavailable and force another change to the XI.

"There's still guys who are performing that we could look at bringing in ... we've got a lot of options," Aussie icon Merv Hughes told Wide World of Sports this week.

Wide World of Sports runs the rule over the next best options for the Aussie bowling cartel.

Michael Neser

For the longest time he was the man carrying the drinks, but there's no doubting the quality of Michael Neser, even as he approaches his 36th birthday early next year.

The right-arm swing bowler has only managed two appearances at Test level but did impress with those limited opportunities and would make for a safe option.

Neser's first-class record is sublime with 410 wickets at an average in the low-20s and would be a perfect candidate to step into the side at his home ground of the Gabba, especially with the Brisbane ground hosting the pink-ball Test this summer.

His quality lower-order batting could also be an important attribute if called upon.

Sean Abbott falls in a similar spot to Neser, having plenty of experience on his side and would be another safer option for George Bailey and the rest of the selectors.

Fergus O'Neill

If the aforementioned Neser is a safe option to bring into the squad, Fergus O'Neill would be a selection not many are calling for and perhaps a slight gamble - but his numbers at first-class level and his age make him a genuine consideration for national selectors.

The 24-year-old has been making a name for himself in the Sheffield Shield competition and recently spent time overseas playing in the County Championship.

O'Neill has already taken 140 wickets at an average of 20.79 from his 36 red-ball games, which includes an eye-catching eight five-wicket hauls.

The one knock on the Victorian, fair or not, surrounds his lack of pace through the air.

But according to Hughes, that shouldn't be held against O'Neill and his ability to take wickets on a regular basis should have him in the Test mix. 

"Terry Alderman didn't bowl express pace either," he told Wide World of Sports.

"Bowlers are often selected if they can bring a point of difference, that's the great thing about cricket, and he brings that.

"Fergus O'Neill is a quality bowler and if someone like Hazlewood was to get injured, he might come into that type of role."https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP28eTfiUHg/?utm_source=ig_embed&

O'Neill has perhaps flown under the radar and might not be the sexiest potential pick for the Ashes squad, but cricket is a numbers-based game and his are at an elite level.

On top of that, O'Neill would bring youthful exuberance to the ranks and doesn't lack in the mongrel department, which is never a bad thing when playing against England.

Stan Sport presenter Adam Peacock backed the new-age approach from O'Neill early in his career with Victoria and Melbourne Renegades.

"Not many cricketers I've seen field in Prada sunnies - he will do things his way, I don't mind that at all," he said on the Willow Talk podcast.

O'Neill has already represented Australia A and is a more than handy batter, already scoring three half-centuries in his young career.

Jhye Richardson

He's become a bit of a forgotten man in the Australian set-up due to injuries, but when fit and firing there are few more dangerous bowlers than Jhye Richardson.

The 29-year-old has been absolutely luckless in recent years and hasn't donned the baggy green in almost four years, despite many hopes of a long career in the side.

Richardson struggled last summer with a shoulder issue and underwent surgery in a bid to be back on deck in time for the Ashes, but is yet to return for Western Australia.

However, according to Australian great Brad Haddin, the right-arm quick would place himself firmly in the mix if he can get back on the field sooner rather than later.

"He's a really interesting case - if he's right, he's in the squad," Haddin told Willow Talk.

"He's had surgery to be available for the Ashes and I hope that come three, four and five, he's in the equation. I understand that he's back bowling, let's hope that we see him playing maybe the last Shield game before then."

Richardson took 11 wickets in three Test matches prior to his injury woes.

Riley Meredith 

A left-field name thrown up by former skipper Tim Paine recently is Riley Meredith, who would no doubt bring a point of difference if required to play.

Meredith has played a handful of white-ball games for Australia during his career, but hasn't been able to break into the Test squad yet.

The 29-year-old can bowl express pace and has been performing well for Tasmania to start the Shield season, claiming 11 scalps at an average of 14.09 in three matches.

"I think he's someone that when the wickets get flatter and you need air speed, he might be someone that comes into the equation as well," Haddin said. 

Xavier Bartlett

Another younger and lesser-tested option, as far as Australia's bowling depth goes, is Xavier Bartlett, who has starred in the Big Bash in recent seasons.

The 26-year-old has forced his way into the ODI and T20 teams for Australia over the past couple of summers and his first-class record is modest with 96 wickets at 26.62.

Haddin believes that his ability to move the ball could factor him into discussions, especially for the early Test matches in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide.

"The other one I think is a big show is Xavier Bartlett," the former Test vice-captain said.

"He could come into calculations for the first two Test matches if something happens.

"He's different to what we have and he does move the ball off the seam, he's a new-ball bowler and his name is there or thereabouts as well."