Questions surround Australia's fragile bowling attack

In October 2013, Australia was heading into a home summer against the old enemy, with a depleted fast bowling line-up and few believing they could reclaim the Ashes.

Patrick Cummins, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc were all injured while Ryan Harris was a Test-to-Test proposition due to an ongoing knee complaint.

History tells us Mitchell Johnson came from the clouds with an axe to grind and a point to prove, as he produced one of the greatest Ashes bowling performances in history.

As Australia heads into the upcoming summer of cricket, history has repeated itself.

Cummins, Pattinson, Siddle and Starc are all recovering from serious injuries, with only Starc a realistic chance of featuring early in the summer.

Unlike 2013 however, Johnson is comfortably retired and no left-handed menace is waiting in the wings to terrify stern opposition in South Africa and world number two Test team Pakistan.

Also of concern is that Nathan Lyon remains only a handy contributor capable of snaring lower order batsmen and the odd top order batsmen. He is still not a bowler capable of tearing through a top order.

Mitchell Marsh continues to develop as a bowler and is more than capable of tying up an end when required, but will never have the pace to ask serious questions of high-quality batsmen.

Josh Hazlewood has emerged as a force and could end up shouldering the spearhead role for a large duration of the summer.

Yet outside of Hazlewood, Australia’s bowling attack is an injured rabble, and selectors have no clear strategy in light of these injury concerns.

Things become even more problematic when the next generation of quicks such as Joe Mennie and Chris Tremain are exposed to the higher level and are ruthlessly treated with contempt by opposition batsmen.

Mental scars can be inflicted quickly and if Mennie and Tremain were needed in the upcoming home Test matches, South Africa will not forget the pasting they gave them on debut.

Experts will argue Mennie and Tremain aren’t even being considered for Test match cricket. However, given they are currently touring as Australian cricketers and the number of injuries to key bowlers, they must be on a list somewhere as backup options if further injuries arise.

If Starc is fit, his pairing with Hazlewood will be crucial for Australia’s fortunes this summer.

Australia’s batting was so woeful on the recent tour of Sri Lanka, it overshadowed an inspired fast bowling performance from the pair on sub-continent pitches.

However, Starc’s history of injury places him in the Harris category of being a Test-to-Test proposition. While an injury to Hazlewood would be a nightmare for Australia’s selectors.

Australia has dodged a bullet given the absence of South African batting supremo AB de Villiers.

De Villiers’ injury is a hammer blow to South Africa’s chances of winning the three-Test contest. If Australian curators do what David Warner asked them to do after the tour of Sri Lanka and prepare roads for pitches to protect our batting line-up, Australia should consistently post higher targets than their South African opposition.

That will go a long way to nullifying the damage South Africa’s formidable bowling attack can inflict.

Pakistan is a different kettle of fish, however.

Turmoil in their home country has allowed them limited home Test matches, which has turned them into a formidable proposition on the road.

If Pakistan’s batting line-up shows the patience they did on the recent tour of England, their bowling line-up has the talent to ask serious questions of the Australians.

It could be a very long and interesting summer for the Australian cricket team.