The biggest positive for England during their series win against Pakistan is the fact they have found a bowling attack that looks ready to challenge the very best teams in the world.

The seam quartet of Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson have drawn comparisons with the famed “Fab Four” of Matthew Hoggard, Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Simon Jones that helped England win the 2005 Ashes.

Ahead of next summer’s clash with Australia, the skill of Robinson allied to the pace of three bowlers who all topped 90 miles per hour in the second Test against Pakistan at Lord’s has given captain Joe Root his own “Awesome Foursome”.

“There’s no reason why they can’t write their own little chapter in English fast bowling history,” Root admitted after Lord’s.

And 2005 Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan went even further in his latest column for , saying: “They are certainly capable of doing something really special and winning back the Ashes for England next summer. It is an attack all captains around the world would think could be a nightmare to face. Now it is up to the England management to ensure they are all fit and firing for the bigger challenges ahead.”

Vaughan is right. This quartet needs to be handled carefully and cannot play all seven Tests between now and the start of next summer’s series against Australia at Trent Bridge on 18 June.

Rest and rotation will be key, especially as Robinson is the only one out of the four who is not playing white-ball cricket for England.

To that end, they need to ensure there is depth in the back-up department. For now, this won’t include Brydon Carse, whose availability is unclear while he is under investigation for his night out in Derby two weekends ago, while Mark Wood’s knee injury means he cannot be considered.

Yet there are three bowlers England should see as genuine back-up options:

His one Test against Zimbabwe last summer was disappointing but his consistent wicket-taking in the County Championship – 36 at 20 this summer – means the skilful Essex seamer can be an understudy to Robinson.

The fast bowler made his Test debut against New Zealand at The Oval in June, taking three wickets, and was drafted into the squad for Lord’s when Carse was dropped.

He has 29 Championship wickets at 24 for Hampshire this summer.

Like Robinson, this Olly is also 32 and has been out of the England squad for some time.

Yet a bowler capable of topping 90mph and who has taken 31 Championship wickets at 20 for Nottinghamshire this summer looks ripe for a recall ahead of the winter.

Next week’s final Test against Pakistan in Birmingham would be a good chance to rotate, while this winter the three Tests in South Africa and the 150th anniversary Test against Australia in Melbourne in March are the priority ahead of February’s two-match series in Bangladesh, where spin will be key.

Here’s the attack I’d pick for each…

• : With the series wrapped up, I’d rest Robinson, Archer and Tongue, while giving Atkinson a chance to open the bowling after picking up just one wicket across the first two Tests. In come Cook, Stone and Baker to prove they can be the main understudies for the winter ahead.

Cook, Atkinson, Stone, Baker

• : No messing about here. With a chance to set the tone from the beginning of the series on one of the quickest surfaces on the circuit, you have to unleash the “Awesome Foursome” against the world Test champions at the Wanderers.

Robinson, Archer, Tongue, Atkinson

• : With three Tests in just 22 days, England will have to switch it up at some point. So I’m replacing Robinson with Cook for this one.

Cook, Archer, Tongue, Atkinson

• : With just three clear days between Centurion and this match, England have to be careful. Robinson is back and I’m bringing in Stone for Tongue. It’s realistic to hope Archer and Atkinson can play the entire series.

Robinson, Archer, Stone, Atkinson

• : Spin plays a big role in Bangladesh, but not as much as in India. I’ll assume two seamers and two spinners for each match but a third of either could be included if Rehan Ahmed or Sam Curran were drafted into the XI as all-rounders instead of Dan Lawrence for this series. I’m resting Archer for this trip, so in terms of the frontline positions for this first Test, Tongue, whose aggression and pace can take the surface out of the equation, and Atkinson are my seamers, while Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir are the spinners.

Tongue, Atkinson, Leach, Bashir

• : Atkinson and Tongue are both due a rest, so Robinson and Stone can come in. The spinners remain the same.

Robinson, Stone, Leach, Bashir

• : With an opportunity to land a psychological blow before the Ashes, it’s back to the strongest quartet for this day-night Test at the MCG. Let’s hope they’re all still fit by now.