But what has pleased Fleming the most is the emerging left-arm paceman has translated his limited-overs potential to success in the first-class arena.

Behrendorff is among a growing brigade of up-and-coming talent pressing their claims for higher honours with excellent performances at state level.

The depth of Australian fast bowling was on full display at Manuka Oval on Wednesday night in the one-day international against South Africa.

With spearhead Mitchell Johnson being rested for the final three games of the ODI series, national selectors put faith in an inexperienced bowling attack of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson.

Behrendorff is on the cusp of breaking into the group after collecting plenty of wickets for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield and the national one-day competition, along with the Perth Scorchers in the Twenty20 Big Bash League.

The 24-year-old made his debut for Australia A this year and took career-best figures of 7-70 to lead WA to an outright victory against Queensland in the Shield this season.

Behrendorff must be considered a strong chance to play for the Prime Minister's XI against England in his home city on January 14.

While Behrendorff has excelled in the shorter forms, Fleming has been impressed with how he has developed his game over the past few years.

"He generally swung the new ball, but there were questions if he could get wickets with the older ball," Fleming said.

"The big doubt was - is he a 50-over and T20 cricketer as opposed to a first-class cricketer?

"He keeps getting better and keeps ticking those boxes.

"Not every bowler can bowl in all three forms, which is why I'm pleased Behrendorff is getting wickets in first-class cricket.

"He'll always be a threat in T20 cricket with his swing and bounce, and from what I'm hearing he's picked up a bit of pace as well."

While there are question marks over Australia's batting reserves, there are no such doubts about the fast bowling ranks.

Hazlewood was the only one of the trio who played in Canberra backing up from the two games in Perth last Friday and Sunday.

The 23-year-old was playing his fifth ODI and coming off a five-wicket haul in Sunday's loss to the Proteas.

Fellow NSW paceman Starc was the most experienced of the group, the 24-year-old left-armer having 26 one-day internationals to his name.

South Australian Richardson, 23, was playing just his eighth ODI and came into the team for WA's Nathan Coulter-Nile, 27.

There was no room for wunderkid Pat Cummins, who was recalled to the ODI squad for the final three games of the series and after playing the Twenty20 series against South Africa.

Cummins, 21, has had a wretched run of injuries since making his Test debut as an 18-year-old, and should get his chance in either Melbourne or Sydney in game four or five.

When he's fit, Cummins is one of the most exciting prospects in the country along with James Pattinson to complement Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.

"There's Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, a big gap, then Behrendorff, Scott Boland ... there's probably 16 in that next rung," Fleming said.

"Particularly Pat Cummins, he's a potential superstar, as is James Pattinson.

"Sometimes injuries stop these type of players and that's where you need constant quality."