Warner, Green, Marsh and other questions for Australia

As the dust settles on a dramatic men's Ashes series, it's a chance to consider what lies ahead for the Australia Test team. Like with all the other countries, the format goes on the backburner as focus switches to the ODI World Cup.

After a six-month period that has seen Australia take on a trio of the biggest assignments - India away, the World Test Championship final and an overseas Ashes - their next three series see them facing Pakistan and West Indies at home followed by New Zealand away.

It is an aging Test team which means the transition that will start to occur over the next year or so will need to be carefully managed and it will show the depth of what is coming through the system.

The first player to depart will be David Warner. He hopes to go out against Pakistan on his home ground at the SCG and may have done just enough - 285 runs at 28.50 - to ensure he gets the ending he has laid out, but it's not yet cemented. There remains a chance the selectors will see the start of the home season as a chance for a clean break.

At times Warner played well against England, most notably at Lord's and in the second innings at The Oval, and his partnerships with Usman Khawaja in the first two Tests had been very important too.

"I thought the way he went about it for a certain period of time was outstanding," coach Andrew McDonald said. "He's always going to have some sort of speculation around what he's doing and where he's heading, but we've got a long time before that first Test match in Australia and Perth."

But regardless of whether it's the start of the Pakistan series or the West Indies one in January, Australia will need a new opening batter sooner rather than later. Warner gave a strong endorsement of Matt Renshaw, but it could be that Marcus Harris is the frontrunner having been the reserve batter in a number of squads over the last 18 months.

Outside of those two names, Cameron Bancroft could come into consideration if he continues to pile up domestic runs (although he couldn't really have done much more last season for Western Australia with 945 at 59.06) while Henry Hunt, Tim Ward and Caleb Jewell have all featured for Australia A.

At 36, Khawaja is also coming towards the backend of his career but as a single-format international player, and having had those years away from the Test scene, the selectors will hope he can continue for a season or two yet to avoid needing two new batters close together.

Mitchell Marsh produced one of the performances of the series when he flayed a brilliant century on the opening day at Headingley. He followed that with more runs at Old Trafford and it has opened up a fascinating selection debate for the home summer.

Cameron Green never found his best form in England, making 134 runs in four Tests and taking seven wickets, and for the first time in his career was dropped at The Oval. Barring injury - and there remain a few questions over the workload Marsh's body can manage - it could be difficult for him to return to being a first pick by December.

Green might get just one Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia after the ODI World Cup, assuming he isn't selected for the T20Is against India which follow that, then the BBL takes over the Australian domestic schedule while the Tests are on.

Looking further into the future, it would appear likely that Green will move higher up the batting order, perhaps as Steven Smith's replacement at No. 4 when that time comes, which could open the door for both him and Marsh being in the same XI. The other name to factor into the allrounder debate is Western Australia's Aaron Hardie as, potentially, is Will Sutherland.

"I think Mitch Marsh took his opportunity at the right time," McDonald said. "And the way he played, he put immense pressure on the opposition bowling.

"Cameron Green is an integral part of Australian cricket moving forward, so we have some decisions to make during the home summer.

"Can they fit in the same team? We've done that once before, albeit that we left a spinner out but we see both having big futures in all three formats for Australian cricket. So I think now is not the time to put a line through one and support the other."

Australia's big three - Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood - played three Tests together in the Ashes. They continue to make a formidable attack even if their economy rates were eye-watering against England.

England have shown with James Anderson and Stuart Broad that age does not have to be a factor, but one aspect the selectors may want to consider is whether there is an opportunity to start getting some games into a young pace bowler to ensure there is some experience banked when a permanent spot opens up.

Scott Boland, who found the going tough in the Ashes with two wickets at 115.50, will likely remain the first reserve, but at 34 is not a long-term option. The same applies to Michael Neser who could go down as very unlucky not to have played more Test cricket.

Jhye Richardson has all the attributes to be a high-class Test bowler but his injury record continues to be troublesome. Lance Morris, who missed the Ashes tour due to a back problem, is the next in line of the younger generation while left-armer Spencer Johnson offers an intriguing option.

Nathan Lyon's series-ending calf injury had a huge bearing on the Ashes, and it proved vital for Australia that they found a way to win without him at Lord's. As expected for such an experienced and successful bowler, the attack looked very different without him.

It was notable how little Todd Murphy was used at Headingley and then he was left out at Old Trafford. But at The Oval he showed all his potential with six wickets and also impressed with the bat - he has the makings of a No. 8 in the years to come.

In the short-term, however, he is unlikely to get much more Test cricket providing Lyon regains fitness for the home season. Not until Australia tour Sri Lanka in early 2025 will conditions likely warrant a second spinner, unless the SCG puts on a turning pitch.

Such has been the rapid rise of Murphy, that nearly half his first-class matches have been Tests. The upcoming season will also be the first time he is Victoria's senior spinner following the delisting of Jon Holland. There had been plans for a county stint with Durham this year but Murphy's workload in India put paid to that. With Australia not playing any Tests next winter, it could well be an attractive option again.

"We've got a really good platform in Shield cricket," McDonald said. "He'll go back there, be an integral part for Victoria and wait for his next opportunity.

"Nathan's a key part of our make-up and some suggest that was another small turning point in the series when we did lose Nathan, and I probably agree with that to some sense.

"But Todd, the way he played here just showed he's one for the future and I suppose the big question around who's going to replace Nathan Lyon, I think that one's been answered in all conditions for mine. I thought it was a really positive step forward in the two games Todd played here."