Usman Khawaja failed to finish training while Travis Head’s comments suggest he may be replacing his long-term teammate at the top of the order.
Khawaja, who was hampered by back spasms in the first Test win over England in Perth, was a notable absentee from the session after leaving early.
It was the Australian squad’s first hit-out since reassembling in Brisbane in the lead-up to Thursday’s Test at the Gabba.
Khawaja received some physiotherapy treatment, took part in a few fielding drills before heading home.
In an eventful session, stand-in skipper Steve Smith unveiled old-school NFL-style black strips under his eyes as he batted against the pink ball to prepare for the day-nighter.
Pat Cummins is still a slim chance of forcing his way into the team to make an early return from a back injury despite not being named in the official 14-man squad.
Head was quizzed how he would feel if he was handed the opener’s role again.
“I’m happy,” he said.
“If that’s what is needed to win a Test match and if that’s what’s required then, yeah, I’m fine with it.
“I’m preparing for anything at this stage.
“There’s a fair bit to work through. I’ve just got here. We haven’t really had many conversations over the last week.
“It’s been about just spending some time out of the game as much as you can. You don’t get much time to chill out in a massive series like this, where it’s pretty full-on every single day.”
Travis Head celebrates his century in the first Test. (Image via Fox Cricket)
Cummins has floated the idea of the team having an interchangeable batting order and Head agreed that the notion of each batter sticking to a specialist position could be on the way out.
“I agree with Pat that (orders) are slightly over-rated,” Head said.
“The traditionalists would say ‘this is how it has got to be’. But that is where the game is going to, with when to use what.
“You could use this order and these players in a range of different ways to win games of cricket.
“I’m a player I feel like can play any role. I am open to it and it’s just trying to work out in the game and in moments when that may come out.”
Head said a fluid batting order had worked in the shorter formats.
“We’ve talked about that a lot – how you get there, and what personnel we have to be able to potentially do that and the personalities in the line-up,” he added.
“You’ve seen it a little bit in the T20 team where we’re trying to push the boundaries in power hitting and do we take singles at certain stages.
“All options are on the table and have been for a long period of time about where this team can potentially get better, and where there’s opportunities to potentially win games of cricket in moments. It’s always been on the table.
“It’s ever-evolving, and we’ll see where we get to.”
Head will stick to a similar formula that was successful in his second-innings 123 at Optus Stadium if he faces the new ball again.
“It is all about risk evaluation and where you might lose your wicket or percentages in your favour. I have always tried to work in percentages in my favour,” he said.
Pat Cummins. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
“I was really pleased with my first 30 or 40 balls and then we see the bouncer plan.
“I think my mindset would have been positive in the first innings.
“The way I went through my gears in my innings is a great blueprint for me moving forward with balls pitched up and then the short-pitched plan.”
England veteran Joe Root has expressed his doubts about whether the Ashes series needed to have a day-night contest but Head is thrilled to get the opportunity for a day-nighter at the Gabba.
“We’ve embraced it. We’ve been able to put out a good product and play really well with it.
“Pink ball, white ball, red ball – who really cares? Does it need it, does it not? It’s a great spectacle and we’re going to have huge crowds again.
“If you win, you think it’s great. If you lose, maybe not. Both teams may have differing opinions by the end of it. I think it’s great for the game.
“We talk about T20, T10 and you see all these different formats. It still works the same way. It’s still five days, it’s just with a slightly different coloured ball and it brings a different atmosphere.”
If the Aussies drop Khawaja and Head is elevated to the top of the order, Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster is set to get a recall with Cameron Green bumping up a spot to five.
There is also doubt over whether Nathan Lyon will be retained as the team’s spinner with Queensland’s Michael Neser a chance to be added as a fourth frontline seamer at his home ground.
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