Mitchell Starc will miss Australia's tour of New Zealand and could soon be booked in for much-needed ankle surgery.
Starc suffered a stress fracture in his right foot during the day-night Test.
That injury is still being assessed but Starc is expected to play no part in Australia's two-Test series in New Zealand that starts on February 12.
Cricket Australia (CA) is also investigating whether the time is right to clean up the bone spurs in Starc's right ankle.
Such an operation would ensure the nation's most potent bowler misses the Twenty20 World Cup, which starts in March.
Starc is desperate to avoid surgery, having declared on Monday it wasn't on the agenda.
The 25-year-old's reluctance is understandable, he has been in career-best form recently and managed the issue with cortisone injections.
However, Starc is the nations's new spearhead and there is obvious merit of fixing both issues over the next four months.
Further scans will dictate whether it's practical for both injuries to heal simultaneously - and whether Starc is any chance of taking part in the T20 World Cup.
Team physio David Beakley and Starc will meet with specialists in Sydney this week and come up with a plan.
"We will take this opportunity to ... get an opinion on whether or not surgery is required at this point in time for his ongoing ankle issues," Beakley said.
"We do not have confirmed timeframes for his return to play."
Bowling coach Craig McDermott was upbeat on Sunday that Starc could be fit in time for the trip across the Tasman.
Tuesday's update from chairman of selectors Rod Marsh was more informed and grim.
"We'd love to have Mitchell Starc playing against New Zealand in the Test series. I don't think that will happen," Marsh said.
"In an ideal world we'd like to have him playing in the (T20) World Cup. It may happen.
Starc spoke to reporters on Monday and seemed genuinely unsure when he would be fit enough to bowl.
"You've got to think of the kid's health. The medical people always keep that in mind," Marsh said.
"He'll be back when he's back."
Starc's ankle trouble flared during the first Ashes Test at Cardiff, where he was clearly in immense pain.
The express paceman was thought to be in extreme doubt for the second Test at Lord's but stayed in the XI and has hardly missed a game in any format since.
CA wanted Starc to sit out half of the domestic one-day tournament in October.
The NSW quick brokered a compromise - he sat out one game and snared a record 26 wickets in the tournament.
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