Australia could be scouring its bare cupboard for a captain, batsman and pace bowler for the Boxing Day Test after a costly trip to Hobart.
Worrying injuries to captain Michael Clarke and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus have added to a lengthy casualty list with two Tests remaining against the touring Sri Lankans.
Clarke retired hurt on 57 with a right hamstring injury during day four of the Bellerive Test before returning to field at slip during Sri Lanka’s second innings.
Australia will no doubt try to everything they can to get him onto the MCG in a week’s time but, if he is prescribed a rest period, vice-captain Shane Watson will almost certainly take over as skipper.
In the batting order, former Test No.3 Usman Khawaja would be Clarke’s most likely replacement.
The ex-NSW batsman has thrived playing for his new state Queensland with a brilliant century on a tough Hobart pitch and three 50s in Sheffield Shield cricket so far.
Bulls coach Darren Lehmann believes Khawaja has addressed selectors’ concerns about his sharpness at the crease and in the field.
Another player likely to be considered is Tasmanian Alex Doolan, who made 161 not out for Australia A against South Africa.
A second chance for the discarded Rob Quiney seems unlikely after he made just nine runs in his two matches against the Proteas.
South Australia’s Callum Ferguson sits second on the Shield’s leading run-scorers’ list but his name is rarely mentioned as a Test candidate.
The left-field selection would be a recall of 35-year-old former Test keeper Brad Haddin, who Steve Waugh recently suggested should be considered for a batsman-only role and who is averaging 67.40 for NSW.
If no batsman is standing up and demanding selection, the bowlers can barely stand up at all.
Injuries have decimated what had been a deep pool, with Hilfenhaus one of seven pacemen who could have been considered now injured.
Selectors are likely to turn to 12th man for Hobart Mitchell Johnson, whose return in Perth after a 12-month absence was encouraging.
Tasmania’s Jackson Bird sits atop the leading wicket-takers list for the second straight season and he should be considered as back-up along with teammate Luke Butterworth and Queensland’s Ben Cutting.
Complicating matters is a lack of first-class cricket while the Big Bash League is completed.
The Sheffield Shield season was suspended at the end of November and the next match won’t begin until the end of January.
The need to manage players ahead of a gruelling 2013 also needs consideration.
The Australians head to India for a blockbuster four-Test series before attempting to win back the holy grail in an Ashes series later in the year.
