The signs, though, were at least hopeful for Cummins on Tuesday as he looked reasonably comfortable during a 40-minute running session on the outfield but he did not bowl, something he will need to do before the team is confirmed on Thursday afternoon if he is to make the XI.

"That wicket last year was pretty similar to an Adelaide wicket. It's probably the closest a drop-in MCG wicket has been," Lyon said. "So I am expecting pretty similar things if Scott gets the opportunity with the pink ball. I don't think many things will change. His confidence is up and so it should be.

"His skill set has always been at the top in my eyes. He hits me in the pad for fun when I play him in state cricket. But what I see in Scott now is his confidence level has gone up a little."

Boland bowled impressively during training on Tuesday evening, giving a number of batters a difficult time, as those who had been used in Perth were carefully managed. Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green both had brief stints with the ball while Hazlewood was restricted to gym work.

There is significant excitement around the call-up of Morris, who is rated as the quickest bowler in the domestic game, but it would probably require a second bowler beyond Cummins to miss out for him to earn a debut.

However, it is a further sign of the pace-bowling stocks Australia have available with Mark Steketee, who has 25 wickets this season, and Sean Abbott both overlooked. Jhye Richardson, who took a five-wicket haul in last year's Ashes Test in Adelaide, is currently not in contention having suffered a number of injury niggles this season which have limited him to two Sheffield Shield outings for Western Australia.