![\"Mitchell](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3a50a01f32b4b7c29fe3c05946dbdad99268e22a.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cThere won\u2019t be any match opportunities for Pat. This is something we\u2019ve done with Pat before, off longish lay-offs, where we\u2019ve put in some time into rebuilding his body. He\u2019s simulated pretty much what a match will look like out there with multiple spells.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe feel as though he\u2019ll be as best prepared as he can be. He was well ahead of where we thought he would be at, and it created a real live conversation for Brisbane. The skill readiness, the loads, how he was pulling up \u2026 it was debated a lot, leading into that Test match. So with that in mind, seeing him further advanced, we feel he\u2019ll be really well-placed for the challenges of Adelaide.\u201d<\/p>\n
With Cummins and Lyon expected to return, Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser loom as the unlucky men to miss out. Boland\u2019s outstanding record in Melbourne \u2013 he averages 14.62 from three Tests at the MCG \u2013 sparked speculation he might be rested in Adelaide, but the nine-day break between Tests has allowed Australia\u2019s attack to freshen up, despite Starc carrying a minor niggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s pulled up well. Starcy\u2019s had a little bit of a hindrance with his left side\u2026 but nothing to worry about,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cHe\u2019s had it before. Incredible workload from him with bat and ball. Everyone should be fit and available if selected in the next game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the pre-planning \u2026 the gap between Tests one and two, and two and three, was something that we thought we could manage. It will be more than likely the best balanced and available attack for Adelaide. We wouldn\u2019t think that someone would be needing a rest there. It\u2019s probably more in Tests four and five.<\/p>\n
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Mitchell Starc bowls at the Gabba. Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Asked about Lyon\u2019s omission in Brisbane, McDonald said the champion spinner had every right to be disappointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe went down a different path,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cWe just valued different things in the pink ball game, and unfortunately, Nathan had to squeeze and that\u2019s nothing to do with his skill sets.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not a difficult conversation \u2026 you\u2019re not ending someone\u2019s career.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe still value Nathan incredibly and he\u2019ll have a big part to play in this series.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mitch Marsh, who this masthead revealed on Monday will retire from first-class cricket at the end of the season<\/a>, will remain a player of interest for selectors this season \u2013 but not beyond that.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019ll be available for Test selection [this season], yes,\u201d McDonald said of Marsh. \u201cI don\u2019t want to put words in Mitch\u2019s mouth, but if he\u2019s retired from first-class cricket he would potentially look at Test cricket retirement also at the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n