As David Warner nurses an untimely groin injury, young gun Will Pucovski recovers from concussion and Joe Burns grapples with poor form, Usman Khawaja is quietly going about his business in Canberra preparing for a Big Bash season.
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Australian selectors are struggling to make their opening batsmen jigsaw mesh ahead of next week's first Test against India, but perhaps they're overlooking the most obvious solution.
Khawaja doesn't lose hours thinking about pulling on the Baggy Green once more, something he's done 44 times previously.
He's more focused on making a strong start with the Sydney Thunder in Saturday night's blockbuster at Manuka Oval with the Melbourne Stars. And the phone hasn't rung.
"Would you like to get a call up for the Australian team? If any cricketer answers no to that he probably shouldn't be playing," Khawaja said.
"I can't focus on what I don't have, I've just got to control the controllables.
"It's part of the reason why I don't really pay too much attention to sports media, especially cricket media. I've always watched cricket games but I just stay out of that because my focus right now is to score runs for Sydney Thunder.
"If anything else comes up I'll go to that. Every time I've looked too far ahead or looked at anything else, I've taken my eye off the ball and I don't want to do that."
Pucovski looked nailed on to replace Warner and make his Test debut next week, but was felled by a bouncer on Tuesday raising serious concerns about his availability.
Incumbent Joe Burns is expected to retain his place at the top of the order, but has managed just 61 runs in seven innings this summer.
Khawaja hasn't worn the Baggy Green since he was dropped during last year's Ashes series in England, but does average a staggering 96.8 while opening the batting for Australia.
After a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season, which included a stylish 131 against South Australia in November, Khawaja looks primed to lead the Thunder's charge this summer.
The team will play their first five matches at Manuka Oval, including a Boxing Day fixture against the Melbourne Renegades.
"This is Thunder Nation territory so fingers crossed we have a lot of supporters coming out here, supporting us, getting behind us," Khawaja said.
"It's a beautiful wicket at Manuka, it's always a really good spectacle to watch games here.
"One of the big things is we're not traveling a lot. I found travel the hardest thing last year about the Big Bash, it just takes a toll on your body after a while and it starts to become really difficult, you have to be really careful about recovery."
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The Thunder have been in Canberra since late Friday night, and have spent the week training at Phillip Oval in preparation for their BBL campaign.
Khawaja's team came within a game of the BBL decider last season, and have retained the majority of their squad while signing star Queensland Ben Cutting, New Zealand international Adam Milne, England wicketkeeper Sam Billings and Sydney young gun Baxter Holt.
"There's two factors - one is having a solid side and trying to keep them on the park as best as we can," Khawaja said.
"And then just trying to peak at the right time. It's not an easy comp to win for that reason. It's a bit of a balancing act, having the right side and being able to peak at the end."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
