Jason Behrendorff will set his sights on a return to first class cricket this summer after his slim hopes of a shock Ashes call-up were dashed.
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Australian selectors will give Behrendorff the chance to get more cricket under his belt before throwing him into the Test arena after leaving him out of a 25-man preliminary Ashes squad.
The Canberra product had emerged as a potential Ashes bolter after turning in a herculean effort against England at Lord's during the World Cup.
But throwing 29-year-old Behrendorff into a five-day game fresh off a red ball hiatus could have been a recipe for disaster.
Recurring stress fractures have threatened to derail Behrendorff's career in recent years and it led him to pull out of Western Australia's Sheffield Shield campaign last season.
Instead he mounted a comeback in the shorter formats and his damaging spell against England in the World Cup serves as a reminder of his world class ability.
But Behrendorff's dream of a Test debut will have to wait as he shuffles to the back of a pack trying to force their way onto the Ashes tour.
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Selectors will likely pick five fast bowlers with a four-day Australia versus Australia A showdown at Southampton's Rose Bowl from July 23 set to determine the make-up of the squad.
Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns says the bulk of the 16-man squad is already locked in, with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood looming as certainties in the fast bowling cartel.
James Pattinson is firming for a recall after impressing for Australia A, leaving Jackson Bird, Michael Neser, Peter Siddle and Chris Tremain to jostle for the final spot.
"Of course with [the five Tests] being close together as well, with five [bowlers], it also gives us the opportunity to manage our fast bowlers a little better," Hohns said.
"That's what we will be attempting to do. These days our fast bowling group understand that.
"Sometimes it's physically difficult for them to back up when Test matches are close together."
Spinner Jon Holland is likely to earn a ticket to the Ashes as cover for Canberra export Nathan Lyon, who will be the first tweaker picked come the first Test on August 1.
"Historically, most times there has been a reserve spinner. That's something we will certainly have to be wary of and take into consideration," Hohns said.
"The main issue there of course is if anything was to happen to Nathan Lyon, particularly on game day or a couple of days out from a Test match.
"It's probably necessary to have some cover, but it's one question we will be asking ourselves."