Frank Tyson thinks it’s time for change, while fellow legendary express paceman Michael Holding doubts it’ll happen.

The future of fast bowling, especially bouncers, has been the subject of much conjecture following Phillip Hughes’ death.

The immediate question is what will the quicks’ mindset be on Tuesday, when the first Test between Australia and India starts at Adelaide Oval.

The more complex issue is whether the International Cricket Council needs to reassess the bouncer.

Tyson, the Englishman famously once described by Don Bradman as as “the fastest bowler I have seen”, is passionate about the latter.

Tyson used incredible pace to capture his 76 Test scalps, at an unfathomable average of 18.56.

When struck on the back of the head by Ray Lindwall during the 1954-55 Ashes at the SCG, the hosts fully expected a short-pitched salvo in response.

Tyson may have been knocked senseless, but he was far from stupid.

The right-armer instead pitched it up, taking six wickets in the second innings to put England on track for a series win.

Tyson has long felt uncomfortable about the impetus being placed on short-pitched bowling in the modern game.

“I think we’ve got to analyse the fact it’s been abused over the last few years,” Tyson told AAP.

“I’ve always thought the short-pitched delivery should be aimed at one thing and one thing only – making batsmen play back.

“It was a weapon to get people out, not to hit people … and it was used sparingly.

“Now that’s all changed.”

Current regulations permit two bouncers per over in Tests, and one an over in Twenty20 and one-day games.

“I think that’s ridiculous,” Tyson said, adding that anything head high should not be a legal delivery.

“You should not be allowed to bowl deliveries that are above shoulder height, simple as that.

“But that’s for the moguls to haggle over.”

ICC chief executive David Richardson recently suggested bouncer reforms are unlikely.

Holding, an awe-inspiring West Indies quick who claimed 249 Test scalps, believes it’s the right stance despite the Hughes tragedy.

“These are very rare occurrences. They’re very, very unfortunate and very, very sad,” Holding told AAP.

“But that doesn’t mean the sport has to change. It was just a freak accident.

“We can’t tell fast bowlers not to bowl short any more, we can’t draw a line halfway down the pitch and force them to bowl full.”

Whether Mitchell Johnson and Indian counterpart Varun Aaron will feel comfortable banging it in short when the four-Test series starts on Tuesday is yet to be determined.

The early suggestion is yes – certainly in Aaron’s case given the bouncer barrage he sent down in the recent tour game.

Johnson, hailed as a hero for intimidating England in last year’s Ashes, was a teammate of Hughes and would presumably be far more shaken up.

Holding felt the sense of shock would be raw for all fast bowlers at the moment, with Hughes likely be in the back of their minds.

“Each individual will get over it in their own way. How long it takes will depend on who it is … but I doubt it will have a long-term impact,” he said.

“They might be a little bit tentative now.

“But I don’t think Mitchell Johnson or anyone else is going to feel like he has to bowl fuller to India this series.”

Holding noted no paceman ever intentionally wanted to hurt anyone, or felt good about inflicting pain.

“Some people may say it, but it’s just bravado. It’s a macho thing,” Holding said.

Holding added this is one aspect of the sport that that could potentially be changed by Hughes’ desperately unlucky death.

“They might start being a bit more careful with what they say,” he said.

“But I don’t think it will change anyone’s aggression … if someone gets hit under the arm and they wince a bit, the bowler is not going to start crying.”