Australia will have its hiccups as it handles a transition period in the world-beating team, but there is confidence in the talent that has been introduced this summer.

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A squad to tackle Sri Lanka later this month will be announced this week with newcomers Beau Webster and Sam Konstas, along with super sub Scott Boland set to feature on the subcontinent.

But former Australian leg-spinner Kerry O’Keeffe has identified exciting Western Australian Cooper Connolly as a player he would like to see blooded on the tour.

Having booked a spot in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s in June, there is now less emphasis on the two-Test series against Sri Lanka when it comes to results.

But the tour presents an opportunity to look to the future in a year where Australia will tour the West Indies midway through 2025 before hosting the Ashes.

O’Keeffe told foxsports.com.au there is plenty to look forward to elsewhere.

“Beau Webster is a positive because I’d seen him in Sheffield Shield and I knew that he was cricket hardened and good off both feet,” he said.

“He uses his height well and bowls enough good overs to rest the quicks, and he catches everything, so he is a big plus.

“There are still question marks over people like Marnus Labuschagne, maybe, but players like Cooper Connolly are emerging, so we’re in a pretty good position.

“Hazlewood would desperately want to get back into this team. We’ve got to divide three into four, and because Pat shows no signs of slowing, Starc’s elastic and Boland and Hazlewood are just metronomic marvels.

“So the bowling group is very strong, and they don’t miss many games. Hazlewood is starting to miss a few, but when he does, Boland steps in. So, you know, I think the short term future is pretty good.

“The bowling unit will go for another 12 months and there’s enough good players like Cooper Connolly coming through to ensure that batting spots, when they become available, are taken up by people with a lot of talent.”

Mike Hussey, who capped his place as a key member of the Ricky Ponting-captained side that won 16 Tests in succession with a century against India at the SCG in 2008, said it was encouraging to see the way the newcomers have performed.

While Nathan McSweeney was dropped after three Tests, he batted with grit during a difficult session in the Adelaide Test and is likely to earn a recall if able to flourish in domestic cricket.

“Probably the real positive is that we’ve been able to expose some new players,” he said.

“The team hasn’t really changed much in the last four to five years (so) to be able to expose some new talent and for the new talent to show that they can handle the level is a positive.”

Hussey is not certain the approach from Konstas is sustainable, but he said it worked extremely well at the MCG.

Those who have watched the Sydneysider flourish believe he had the technique and discipline to succeed in the Test arena and is unlikely to bat in as aggressive a manner in the future.

“Konstas was unbelievable in Melbourne, really,” Hussey said.

“I mean, I’m not sure it’s a sustainable way to play, but it was pretty amazing to basically get the Indians off their line and length.

“And I think Beau Webster has looked really comfortable. He has been super impressive, I think, with the way he went about it, so that’s good. And obviously Scotty Boland has been unbelievable again.”

Similarly to O’Keeffe, Hussey said it would be good to see a new generation of fast bowlers start to challenge the leading quartet, as brilliant as they are.

“It would be nice to see that next generation of fast bowlers coming through as well,” he said.

“That’s probably going to be the next challenge as we as this team sort of moves on.”