The National Cricket Academy (NCA in Bengaluru) has been monitoring the preparation and progress of pacers Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, Umran Malik and a few others since July.

The practice of cricketers who are on the radar of the national team frequenting the NCA to work on and brush up their skills before the domestic season gets underway is a usual practice. This year though, a little more attention is being paid to their preparation and progress, keeping in mind Team India’s five-match Test series in Australia beginning in November.

Alongside Mayank, Akash and Umran, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vidwath Kaverappa, Khaleel Ahmed and Harshit Rana are among the other quicks working on their skills. Barring Mayank, most of the others will then be playing in the Duleep Trophy beginning on September 5. If they make a mark there, they stand a chance of being called up for the ‘A’ tour of Australia set to take place in late October.

Impressive showing on the ‘A’ tour could also earn them a berth in the Team India squad for the Australia Tests.

“The quicks who do well in the Duleep Trophy will certainly have a fair chance of being chosen for India ‘A’, which will most likely play two four-day games against Australia ‘A’ in Mackay and Brisbane. Thereafter, an intra-squad game, featuring the Team India players as well, is lined up in Perth before the Test series begins (on November 22 in Perth),” a BCCI official told The Telegraph on Sunday.

India’s pace attack in Australia will revolve around Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami, who’s expected to return for the assignment Down Under. Shami, in all likelihood, will play one Ranji Trophy game for Bengal before his India comeback.

However, in such a long series, the need for back-ups is an area the team management will be careful about. “Alongside (the aspect of) selection in the main squad, the India 'A' performers could also be utilised as reserves or net bowlers,” the Board official said.

Among these young speedsters, the focus seems to be on Mayank and Akash, especially for their ability to generate extra pace. Bengal pacer Akash has proven his mettle on the international stage with his three-wicket burst on the first morning of the Ranchi Test against England earlier in February.

Mayank’s 150kmph-plus thunderbolts in Lucknow Super Giants colours this year had made an immediate impact, till a side strain cut short his maiden IPL stint. The 22-year-old was expected to return in the Duleep Trophy, but there's "still a bit of apprehension" when it comes to him bowling long spells.