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Mitchell Starc has snared seven wickets in a low-key tour match against Derbyshire but it was his control that made a big impression on selector Trevor Hohns.

Mitchell Starc's new-found sense of control and Australia's careful approach to managing their fast bowlers have the left-armer closing in on a Test recall, while Josh Hazlewood is confident he can keep backing up for the rest of the series.

Starc claimed match figures of 7-85 to be the pick of the visitors' bowlers in their tour-game belting of Derbyshire.

The left-armer cleaned up the tail in both innings but it was his tight new-ball spells that caught the eye of captain Tim Paine, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns plus fellow quick Hazlewood.

There is a three-day break between the fourth and fifth Ashes Tests, almost certainly ensuring the attack will change.

The growing expectation is that selectors will also look to freshen up their pace battery in Manchester, where the fourth Test starts on Wednesday.

Hohns wouldn't be drawn on Starc's chances of returning in the high-stakes Test but was full of praise for how the express paceman has improved his red-ball control since setting a record for most wickets at a single World Cup.

"From the start of the tour it was made very clear what was expected of our bowlers and where we wanted them to bowl," Hohns said.

"Mitchell has taken all that on board and he has worked very, very hard to improve his game in that area.

"We all know he is an aggressor, so we can't expect him to change the way he bowls too much."

Hazlewood, who was rested from the tour game, noted Starc "bowled really well with the new ball".

"The pace looked up there throughout the whole game. He looks fit and firing," he said.

Paine, speaking after day one of the tour game, highlighted Starc's control and the fact he demonstrated it in long spells.

"We know what Starcy can do in terms of blowing teams away. We also know that coming to England in the past, that hasn't worked," Paine said.

"The areas he has been trying to improve, so he can be important for us in English conditions, I thought he showed today he's going really well with that."

Hohns suggested the taxing nature of this five-Test series, squeezed into a tick over six weeks because of the World Cup, meant his selection panel had to manage fast bowlers with particular care.

"In the past we have generally used the same ones," Hohns said.

"A lot of the Test matches in the past were spaced out a little more."

However, Pat Cummins has made it clear he wants to play all five Tests.

Hazlewood is also upbeat about backing up for the next two Tests despite the turnaround.

"The body's really good ... I can't see why not, unless we bowl a mountain of overs in the next game," the right-armer said.