Conditions set to determine fast-bowling mix: Langer

Australia men's coach Justin Langer has confirmed all six fast bowlers are fit and available for selection for the critical fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, meaning Australia could field an unchanged bowling attack for the first time this series.

Pat Cummins, James Pattinson and Peter Siddle played in the series' opener at Edgbaston before Pattinson was rested for the Lord's Test as he is carefully managed through his comeback to international cricket after spending three-and-a-half years on the sidelines with injury.

Josh Hazlewood replaced Pattinson and joined Cummins and Siddle for the second Test. Siddle, the veteran of Australia's pace battery, was then swapped out for his Victorian teammate for the third Test in Leeds.

At Headingly, the pace trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Pattinson steamrolled England for 67 and, along with champion off-spinner Nathan Lyon, created more than enough chances to take 10 wickets in the second innings in the dramatic run chase led by a rampaging Ben Stokes.

Those three quicks sat out of Australia's tour match in Derby and given the nine-day break between the third and fourth Tests, the only thing that could perhaps be standing in the way of the selectors sticking with the same pace attack for Old Trafford is the pitch.

"All six of them are fit and healthy, which is a great luxury," Langer said in Manchester.

"There's going to be three disappointed ones, two specifically I would've thought, but we've got to work out which ones it's going to be.

"Whatever three we select we're going to have a very good bowling attack.

"We'll have a look at Old Trafford (pitch) tomorrow (Monday), I can't imagine there's going to be too much grass on it, I'll be surprised if there's any grass on it actually, but there might be.

"The conditions in the first three Tests have been very dry, which has half-surprised us, and you've seen the way the wickets have been; a bit up and down, there's been certainly some seam movement with the Dukes ball, a little bit of spin, probably more spin than we were expecting, maybe not so much last Test.

"So we'll just have a look at Old Trafford tomorrow and then work out the best way to win the Test match."

While the bowling attack could remain unchanged, the batting order will definitely be altered to accommodate the return of Steve Smith.

Smith made just 23 against Derbyshire but importantly got through the game showing no ill-effects of the concussion he suffered at Lord's, with Langer confirming he will return for the fourth Test.

Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne has excelled with three half-centuries on the trot as Smith's replacement, both at Lord's and Leeds, and looks set to retain his place in the top six.

Which means one batsman will have to be squeezed out, most likely one of Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja or Matthew Wade.

Australia's left-handers have found the going tough against England's right-arm seamers operating round the wicket this series.

It is an aspect of the Australia's batting national selector Trevor Hohns said the selectors will discuss when assembling the batting unit for Old Trafford.

But Langer said the top batsmen will be picked and expected to adjust to whatever is thrown (or bowled) at them, regardless of which way they hold the bat.

"My view has always been that the best players will adapt and should adapt," he said.

"It doesn't matter whether you're left- or right-handed, the best players should adapt to who you're (facing).

"If they can't then they can't be in the side; if they do then they'll stay in the side.

"If it was five right-handed batters and one left-hander no-one would even be talking about it; That's another silly, nonsensical theory of cricket isn't it?

"But they're bowling well to us, (Stuart) Broad around the wicket very good, Stokes the way he keeps running in and he swung the ball, that hasn't happened a lot this series, (Chris) Woakes and obviously (Jofra) Archer's a good bowler.

"Our boys have to be on top of their games, left- or right-handed."

Should Langer and selectors feel an additional change to the batting order is necessary, allrounder Mitch Marsh is hitting form at the right time.

Marsh, who made hundreds in Perth and Sydney during the last Ashes, was named player of the match for his 74 and three wickets last week against a depleted Derbyshire side at The County Ground.

While the three-day clash was just the second match he has played in the past month, Marsh impressed Langer with his seam position, ability to swing the Dukes ball, the way he used his powerful build to counter fast, short-pitched bowling, and his sharp footwork at the crease.

But counting against the Western Australian was the fact he didn't turn his solid start in Derby into a huge score that might have demanded selection.

"The tough thing for Mitch and a few of them, is you have to bang so hard (on the door) to get into the side – like Matthew Wade, Marcus Harris did for example," Langer said.

"It would have been nice from his point of view to turn his 74 into 120 not out. That's about the 'banging so hard that you can't (be ignored)'. That's what we want to see from our players.

"Whether he plays on Wednesday time will tell.

"Ultimately for him and for all the players performances to ensure you have to be selected is what we're looking for and I've been consistent in saying that for the last 12 months."

Langer said the selectors are "pretty close" to settling on the batting order and will aim to finalise the top six on Monday to give those selected ample time to mentally prepare for the fourth Test, where Australia would retain the Ashes with a win.

2019 Qantas Ashes Tour of England

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Pat Cummins, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes (vc), Chris Woakes.

First Test: Australia won by 251 runs at Edgbaston

Second Test: Match drawn at Lord's

Third Test: England won by one wicket at Headingley

Tour match: Australians v Derbyshire, August 29-31

Fourth Test: September 4-8, Old Trafford

Fifth Test: September 12-16, The Oval