Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson give England cause for concern ahead of the Ashes

IMAGINE if Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are all fit for the first Ashes Test. It’s enough to make English palms start sweating, writes Robert Craddock.

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood (C) celebrates with his teammates after he dismissed Indian batsman Karun Nair during the third day of the third cricket Test match between India and Australia at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium complex in Ranchi on March 18, 2017. ----IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE-STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE----- / GETTYOUT / AFP PHOTO / SAJJAD HUSSAIN / ----IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE — STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE----- / GETTYOUT

THE great hope for this plucky young Australian side is they have got enough petrol for six more days of trench warfare.

More than any Australian touring team of the past decade, they deserve to do themselves justice.

But they look tired. And India have gone from confused and concerned to confident.

Indian sighs have been replaced by swaggers. Danger signs are flashing.

But nothing that happens today or in the final Test of this riveting tour should cloud the fact that this has been a tour of huge progress for Australia.

With one day and one Test to go, Australia are still the team that has to be caught because, being the trophy holders, the 1-1 scoreline means that even if Australia lose today, they would retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy if they won the final Test. Draw today and they will only need a draw to keep it.

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood celebrates with Pat Cummins after he dismissed Indian batsman Karun Nair

Almost every pundit expected the trophy to be locked away in an India trophy cabinet by now.

Even if Australia loses today, their performance on this tour has been more impressive than their 3-0 triumph over Pakistan in Australia.

Much was made of Australia’s resurgence against Pakistan but a fightback against a homesick, travel-weary Pakistan team was nowhere near as impressive as taking the fight up to India on their home soil.

Australia know they have the team to stand up to any team, anywhere in the world.

It’s not as if Australia’s performance was anywhere near perfect. David Warner has struggled. Mitchell Marsh failed badly. Peter Handscomb has been patchy. Mitchell Starc was injured. But these soft spots only make the collective effort better.

You can tell they are playing for each other and their captain Steve Smith.

His pledge after the horror loss to South Africa in Hobart that he wanted players who had a go has been answered by a team who have a go.

There is much to look forward to.

Imagine if Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are all fit and in-form come the first Test at the Gabba this summer.

Australia have been dreaming of the moment.

Ben Horne and Peter Lalor dissect the fourth day’s play from the third Test with India in the box seat to take a 2-1 series lead.

The brutal toil of yesterday’s Ranchi Test could be replaced by a Force 10 hit on England if the planets align. Because there is so little big-time cricket to be played between now and the first Ashes Test, there is no excuse for any of them not to be fit and firing come November.

Who would you leave out?

Pattinson might be at the end of the queue right now but if his 5-7 against Queensland on Saturday is any guide, he would not be left out for long.

Australia are famous for their fast bowling pairings – Lillee and Thomson, Lindwall and Miller,

Gillespie and McGrath – but greatness rarely comes in threes. The cagey Bill Johnson was an under-rated force behind Lindwall and Miller, Michael Kasprowicz had some fine moments behind McGrath and Gillespie and Max Walker gave wily support to Lillee and Thommo.

Three greats is unusual. Four would be memorable, if only for the debate over competition for starting places.

History tells us that it won’t last for long, for any group of four fast men will invariably suffer injuries.

But even if it only lasted for the span of next summer’s Ashes, it would be endless fun for Australia.

If Cummins can get lift and menace from a rolled mud deck in Ranchi, imagine what sort of damage he could do in Brisbane or Perth?

Originally published as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson give England cause for concern ahead of the Ashes