Usman Khawaja's future in the Test side will be decided over the next few days and opinion is certainly divided over whether he should return for the Ashes.
The left-hander will celebrate his 39th birthday on day two of the Adelaide Test after being ruled out at the Gabba due to a lingering back complaint.
The belief is that Khawaja will be fit for selection in the third match against England, but whether he can force his way back into the Australian batting order remains to be seen.
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In his absence – both for the second innings in Perth and the entire match in Brisbane – the hosts have turned to a new-look opening pair of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald.
Head scored an all-time classic century at the first time of calling, while Weatherald has shown he is up to the task at Test level and scored 72 in the second Test.
The general consensus is that the Aussies should stick solid with Head and Weatherald up top, which could potentially bring an end to Khawaja's career in the baggy green.
Mark Taylor told Wide World Of Sports that selectors should stick to what has worked, but the line of thinking from others inside and outside the four walls might be different.
However, as revealed by Andrew McDonald this week, Khawaja could fill a role other than as an opener for the remaining three games of the Ashes.
"The assumption is that Uzzy can only open as well – I think that he does have the flexibility," the Australian coach told media after the second Test victory.
"We like to think that all our batters have the flexibility to be able to perform anywhere in that order. We've got a collective group of batters there that, as the series wears on, the opposition may create some different challenges for us.
"So we're open to what it would look like for us moving forward."
Queensland teammate and exiled Test batter Matt Renshaw believes that Khawaja is more than capable of bringing something different to the No.5 position.
"Uzzy is a world class player," he told SEN Radio.
"He can slot in anywhere – he's an unreal player of spin and can face fast bowling.
"Head has been doing an amazing job as opener, so there is absolutely a role for Uzzy to play at five and he averages 250 batting at five in Test cricket.
"He did it for a few seasons in (Sheffield) Shield batting at four and five, and we won those Shields.
"Anyone saying he can't step in to bat fifth is focusing on remembering the bad times and forgetting all the good."
Khawaja has only batted twice in the No.5 position at Test level and while it's a small sample size, he scored centuries in both innings during the 2021/22 Ashes series.
He is also regarded as one of the better players of spin in the Australian set-up, having starred in the subcontinent during the second-half of his Test career.
After struggling early in his tenure, Khawaja now averages 54.8 against spin and on the pitches in both Adelaide and Sydney, that could prove to be a vital asset.
Will Jacks is expected to retain his position in the England side but has been floated as a potential top-order batting prospect, which could also open the door for Shoaib Bashir to feature in the Ashes at some stage over the next three Tests.
Khawaja's potential selection for Adelaide and beyond, whether as a middle-order or top-order batter, would also give Australia plenty of flexibility and he could quite easily be interchanged with Head depending on the match situation.
Given the coach has already publicly floated the idea of Khawaja filling a different role than usual means the door is well and truly open for a Test swansong.
It would divide opinion, but Khawaja was good enough in the eyes of selectors to earn a spot for the first Test and only batted once, dismissed by a good delivery in Perth.
If they believe he can provide value that helps Australia win matches, there is no reason why Khawaja can't be given another opportunity before it's all said and done.
Australia's squad for third Ashes Test
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster
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