Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc all but certain to spearhead attack in Perth

Despite some calls from WA for the debut of Lance Morris, Aussie coach Andrew McDonald will continue to back in his veteran quicks, saying his side will pick the best possible team.

Next-generation quick Lance Morris will need to cool his jets with Mitchell Starc brushing off injury concerns ahead of the summer and the ghosts of the first World Test Championship cycle shaping Australian selectors’ determination to pick their best XI possible at all times.

On a day Mitchell Johnson’s latest column called for West Australian firebrand Morris to be brought into the Aussie XI for the first Test against Pakistan in a bid to regenerate an ageing side, Australian coach Andrew McDonald all but confirmed that big three quicks Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood would hold their spots for the opening Test of the summer, which begins at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Thursday.

While Morris, 25, tested Australia’s batters during a session in Perth on Sunday, McDonald effectively shut down speculation that Morris or Scott Boland would play this week.

Starc’s fitness had been the subject of media reports but the veteran left-armer is primed to play despite carrying lingering fitness issues from the Ashes into Australia’s victorious World Cup campaign.

“All returned in good order as we saw and fantastic to have a centre wicket on the WACA Ground, to go out there and train. Perfect conditions to have a really good contest between bat and ball,” McDonald said.

Mitchell Starc looks a certain starter in Perth. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

“Lance put a few under notice there, in particular Marn. So it was a good contest, a good hitout, and all the quicks returned in good order.

“In terms of what that means for selection, we’ll work through that over the next couple of days, but I think it’ll be a pretty, how do I put this? it’ll look the same as it has before.”

Pressed on Starc, McDonald conceded that there had been some worries around the paceman’s fitness following the tour of England, with a groin complaint leading to his withdrawal from a white-ball tour of South Africa.

But McDonald said the issue was behind Starc.

“He had some well-documented issues coming out of the Ashes, and his ability to get himself through the World Cup and then to present in really good order here has probably calmed our nerves around what the summer looks like,” McDonald said.

“At the end of the Ashes … there might have been some concerns about how much he could take on during the summer, but he presented in really good order and really confident he’ll progress through the summer as he normally does.”

Johnson – who sparked days of coverage after his column criticising David Warner and selection chair George Bailey last weekend – was more restrained in his latest offering for The West Australian newspaper.

“With Perth likely to present a fast and bouncy pitch, there would be no better place for the young tearaway (Morris) to steam in for his Test debut,’’ Johnson wrote.

“Spots are up for grabs as the Australian Test team prepares to enter a period of dramatic change, with eight of the likely XI to face Pakistan in the first Test at Optus Stadium this week aged 32 or older.

“At 29, Marnus Labuschagne is the youngest player in the expected line-up.”

McDonald said his side would continue to play the best team possible. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

However having missed qualification for the inaugural WTC final in 2021, the Aussies will not be in the process of gifting baggy greens.

“We’re pretty clear on our selection philosophy and what underpins that,” McDonald said.

“We’re there to pick the best XI that we can at any given time, and I think the World Test Championship’s put a premium on every Test match. It’s hard to make, we saw that we missed out the first cycle of it (narrowly), deducted by over rate of all things, so it’s always tight to get into that final, so every Test match counts so we’ve got that philosophy and we’ll keep that simple across the time that myself, George and Tony Dodemaide are making those decisions.”

Asked about Johnson’s stinging comments about Warner, McDonald sought to defuse the situation, saying: “I think that’s a long way behind all of us.”

The coach also said no call had yet been made on who would replace Warner at the top of the order, with the left-hander flagging his planned Test retirement at the end of this series.

“We’ve got time to make that decision,” McDonald said.

“Davey’s playing the first Test match and we’ll go from there. Until we have to make that decision it’ll continue to I suppose bubble away and the speculation will be there.”

Originally published as Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitch Starc all but certain to spearhead attack in Perth