Australia's hopes of Ashes redemption - and a rise from No.5 on the International Cricket Council's rankings - begins in earnest this week with the opening round of the Sheffield Shield. While this will be a round of day-night matches with pink balls, as preparation for the second Test in Adelaide, the focus of all involved will be on a spot in the Australian squad before the Ashes opener in Brisbane.
There are up to three spots yet to be settled - the prized No.3, who fills the all-rounder's role at No.6 and whether Matthew Wade retains the gloves at No.7.
Red-ball cricket resumes in rounds two and three of the Shield campaign from November 4 and 13, giving those hoping to retain their spot, and would-be challengers, plenty of opportunity to impress chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns. Jon Pierik assesses the burning questions heading into a pivotal summer for Steve Smith's side.
Who fills the all-rounder role at No.6?
This already is the subject of intense debate. Since Mike Hussey retired in 2013, 20 men have been used at No.6. Australia continues to struggle to find a genuine all-rounder, that being someone who can average mid 30s with the bat and about 30 with the ball. The under-appreciated Shane Watson averaged 35.19 with the bat and 33.68 with the ball in his 59 Tests - figures Australia would take right now. To put that into context, England great Andrew Flintoff, seen as the quintessential modern all-rounder, scored 3845 runs at 31.77 and claimed 226 wickets at 32.78.
The lack of a true all-rounder has prompted selector Mark Waugh to declare batting will be the priority at No.6 - an understandable comment considering how frequent the middle-order collapses have been. There are about five candidates to bat behind Peter Handscomb in Brisbane. Mitch Marsh, ideally, would have grown into the role by now but he remains a frustrating project. He was dropped last summer, and he has yet to resume bowling after a shoulder reconstruction.
WA teammate Hilton Cartwright made his Test debut in Australia's last Test on home shores - against Pakistan in Sydney. He made 37 but his medium-pacers were only given four overs. He returned to the side against Bangladesh in Chittagong (18 and 0-16 off five). "I want to make that my spot. Hopefully, if I make a good start to the Shield season, I can make that my spot," he said.
Marcus Stoinis, who has returned home to WA from Victoria, impressed with scores of three, 63 not out, 27no, 15no and 42 in Australia's 4-1 one-day series defeat in India. Australian batting coach Graeme Hick said the powerful Stoinis had put himself in contention.
NSW all-rounder Moises Henriques has been disappointing in his four Tests - all overseas. He has averaged 23.42 with the bat and 82 with the ball with his medium pace but had a strong 2016-17 Shield season. He also has the support of former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh. "Moises Henriques has been in good form the last couple years in domestic cricket [and] I think he's ready to play Test match cricket again. He's a very good player. It's good he's put his name back up there again," he said.
Glenn Maxwell delivered a breakthrough Test century against India in Ranchi earlier this year but has failed to pass 50 in his next seven innings. He does offer handy off-spin but skipper Steve Smith has been loath to use him. The uncapped Travis Head, averaging 37.36 in 30 one-day internationals, also has support, and he, too, offers part-time spin. He gets his chance to impress first up against a strong NSW line-up.
Former Test skipper Allan Border has called for veteran Shaun Marsh, with a modest average of 36 in 23 Tests, to be recalled.
As it stands, it appears Maxwell, also a brilliant fielder, and Cartwright lead the race.
Is the Test career of Matthew Wade over?
It's certainly on the line. Selectors would appear to have three options - stick with Wade, recall Peter Nevill, the man Wade replaced last summer, or unveil highly-rated South Australian Alex Carey. Former Test captain Mark Taylor has pointed out how crucial runs were from Brad Haddin (493 runs at 61.62) four years ago at home against England - and selectors are unlikely to have forgotten that.
Wade, 29, was recalled during last summer's crisis against South Africa when it was felt the side needed a more boisterous voice behind the stumps, more in the prism we have come to view our glovemen over the years. There was never any doubt Nevill, 32, was the more pure gloveman but his lack of runs also hurt him (468 runs at 22.28 in 17 Tests, 0 centuries, three 50s).
Wade has 886 runs at 28.58 in 22 Tests but his two tons were in 2012 and 2013. Since returning to the side in Adelaide, he has 263 runs at 20.23, and has passed 50 only once in 16 innings. Close observers say his keeping has improved. Steve Waugh says selectors have "got to be fair" to him.
The selectors like Carey, 26, and picked him ahead of Nevill for the aborted mid-year Australia A tour of South Africa. He has been consistent behind the stumps and recorded the most dismissals by a gloveman in a Shield season with 59 in 2016-17. He scored more than 500 runs last season - a strong start this week could have him as the "bolter".
Will Usman Khawaja remain in the side at No.3?
It is his to lose. The silky left-hander has endured a rugged 2017, having seemingly had first drop locked up. He had a strong home summer (581 runs at 58.1), including a robust 145 against South Africa as a stand-in opener in Adelaide, but his weakness against spin bowling would haunt him, and he did not play in any of the four Tests in India. He returned to the line-up for the first Test in Bangladesh, contributing one and one, and was dropped after the shock defeat. He will hope to regain his groove for Queensland on the quicker, bouncing Australian decks, and his record at the Gabba (299 runs at 74.75 in three Tests) should hold him in good stead. However, if he does struggle, the other options appear to be to leave Smith at No.3, as he was in the second Test in Bangladesh, or recall - yet again - Shaun Marsh.
What about the attack?
The frontline attack of a now fit Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, still recovering from a side strain, and Pat Cummins, with Nathan Lyon providing high-quality spin, appears set in stone - and ready to trouble an England batting line-up director of cricket Andrew Strauss has concerns over. Mitchell Johnson tormented the tourists four years ago with 37 wickets, and there is no reason why Starc, a man Johnson says could finish with 300 Test wickets, cannot do the same. He and a now healthy Cummins are capable of touching 150km/h and roughing up Joe Root's men with repeated short balls.
In Lyon, Australia's greatest off-spinner, Smith has an attacking weapon, who can also hold and maintain pressure, allowing enforcers Cummins and Starc, along with the guile of Hazlewood, to inflict damage at the other. South Australian Chadd Sayers and veteran Peter Siddle are among a handful of quicks jostling for the back-up role.
What else will selectors look for in the opening Sheffield Shield rounds?
Last summer's home woes against South Africa resulted in Matthew Renshaw and Handscomb being handed their baggy green caps - a wise call by Hohns. Renshaw (623 runs at 36.64 in 10 Tests) has been unflappable but hasn't passed 50 in his last nine innings and is set to be targeted by England. He will want a couple of big Shield scores. Handscomb (743 runs at 53.07) has already become a leader but his unorthodox technique faces a major test against England's metronomic Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. The new Victorian captain will also want a strong start to the domestic campaign. Australian cricket has been at its best when depth has been strong and fresh faces emerge. Who will it be this summer?
Ashes series schedule:
First Test: Gabba, November 23-27.
Second Test: Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night).
Third Test: WACA Ground, December 14-18.
Fourth Test: MCG, December 26-30.
Fifth Test: SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test).
Sheffield Shield: Round one:
October 26: Queensland v Victoria (Gabba)
October 26: WA v Tasmania (WACA)
October 27: SA v NSW (Adelaide Oval)
* All matches day/night (pink ball)
Jon Pierik's Test squad for Brisbane: David Warner (vc), Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.12th man: Chadd Sayers
