Trevor Hohns, the Australian chairman of selectors, has been sweltering sitting in the empty Dubai stands watching the two batsmen he has so often ignored leading the fight against Pakistan in the first Test.
Usman Khawaja has been the perennial whipping boy once Tests on the sub-continent arrive, while Aaron Finch played 619 career games before he earned his first baggy green.
Both are 31, and have opened the batting in Dubai with stands of 142 and 72 for a combined 214.
But once they were parted, 13 wickets have fallen for 124 with Australia needing an impossible 326 more to win, or bat out the final day for an honourable draw.
Khawaja has been the pilot, for which he’s qualified, with 85 and an unbeaten 53, while Finch has contributed 62 and 49 on a track that has given up plenty of turn requiring boundless patience.
Usman Khawaja. (AAP Image/David Moir)
Not so for the rest.
The Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell as senior members of the side, have only managed 19 between them in four visits to the crease, while two other debutants Travis Head and Manus Labuschagne both started with ducks. Head is unbeaten on 34 the second time ’round.
To round off the top seven, skipper Tim Paine managed only seven in his one dig.
It’s been like watching the Wallabies in their first half against the Pumas in Salta last weekend.
Embarrassing.
But there won’t be a comeback like the Wallabies, the remaining batsmen will do themselves proud if they can hang on for the draw.
The pre-Test words of new baggy green coach Justin Langer must be ringing in their ears.
“Set yourselves for long innings, be patient,” was Langer’s advice.
If only.
And what must be ringing in Langer and Hohns’ ears were the words of former Test selector Mark Waugh, saying he would have picked Glenn Maxwell.
Why no love for the ‘Big Show’? (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Somehow, he was left behind.
All seven Tests Maxwell has played have been on the sub-continent. His only Test ton was at Ranchi last year.
While he’s averaging a mere 26, he plays spin well, he’s a world-class fieldsman, and even his very friendly offies would turn on this Dubai track.
It’s staggering how much carnage has been caused with the suspension of Steve Smith, and David Warner, and to a lesser extent Cameron Bancroft.
And that will remain the case until March next year for Smith and Warner.
So it will be left to Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch to lead the way in the interim, but they can’t steady the ship on their own.
There is one bonus, they won’t have to get a phone call from Trevor Hohns telling them they haven’t made the side.
We must be grateful for small pickings these days.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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