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It’s worthy of a headline when Steve Smith spills two chances – fans are used to the Australian skipper holding screamers.
Smith is right up there with the best slippers in Australian cricket since World War II – a line-up which includes Bobby Simpson, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Mark Waugh, and Shane Warne.
But not yesterday at the Gabba with the second drop of Asad Shafiq on 72 off Mitchell Starc probably costing the baggy greens a victory over Pakistan on the fourth day.
Shafiq will resume this afternoon on 100, his 10th Test ton, with Pakistan 8-382, still 108 runs away from an unlikely win.
Smith will have had a restless night, even though he partly regained his confidence by snaring a sharp low to his left chance to send Wahab Riaz packing for 30 late at night.
But the Australian skipper will be keeping a close eye on Mother Nature today who may yet save Pakistan from defeat if the forecast of rain from 2pm until 6pm (local time) is on the money.
Whatever the outcome, attention will turn to the selectors for the biggest cricket event in Australia for any calendar year – the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Having won two Tests on the trot against South Africa, and presumably Pakistan, it would be fair to say as the team ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
There’s also the key point the MCG will be a red ball Test, after two pink ball affairs.
And that could save Nic Maddinson’s bacon after scores of a duck, one, and four lasting a total of 23 deliveries.
If the selectors feel Maddinson’s done his dash, Shaun Marsh won’t be a contender after breaking a finger at the WACA against South Africa early last month.
Marsh is likely to return via the Big Bash League, leaving Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh as the only genuine replacements.
David Warner will be hoping Matt Renshaw is a long-term opening batting partner.
This year Warner’s only scored one Test ton – 122 not out against the West Indies at the SCG in early January, missing out in his next 17 visits to the crease.
Of those, a 97 against South Africa at the WACA and 68 against Sri Lanka at Colombo are his only scores over 50.
That may have something to do with having a revolving door of partners in Joe Burns, Shaun Marsh, and Renshaw, with the Test against South Africa in Adelaide where Usman Khawaja and Renshaw opened in the second dig, with Warner at three.
Khawaja, Smith, and Peter Handscomb are assured of a MCG start, while the selectors won’t tamper with Matthew Wade as keeper, even through Peter Nevill and Handscomb are far better glovemen.
Pacemen Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird are also assured of MCG selection, with Bird the leading wicket-taker at the Gabba with 6-177 off 37, Starc 5-160 off 48, and Hazlewood 3-100 but wicketless in the second dig where his attacking bowling was relentless, but not rewarded.
That leaves offie Nathan Lyon vulnerable, despite an uprising of fan support for ‘Garry’.
He’s been a big disappointment at the Gabba, failing to use the deep footmarks the three Pakistani left-arm pacemen have left.
For most of his 36 overs in taking 2-131, Lyon has been too fast through the air, bowling darts, quite often in the 90kph range, when the low 80s were the go.
Promising leggie Adam Zampa is knocking on the door after many excellent ODI performances where batsmen are always eager to attack.
In his 19 ODIs, he’s captured 30 wickets at 27.80, and he’s only 24.
There are worthy options as we await the selectors’ squad for the MCG.