The call by the Australian selectors for Uswan Khawaja to join the Australian squad in the light of Michael Clarke's continued problems with his back has at least clarified one issue among those who watch and wait on the next move of the Australian selectors. Clearly, Steve Smith does not have their confidence to bat at 6, a place one would have imagined was his destiny in Australian cricket. Either that or Khawaja is a fabulous net bowler! Smith, it seems, will only have that role in the Brisbane Test. Of course, Haddin could bat at 6 and Smith at 7, something that has been tried before.

With Brisbane rumbling with late spring storms in the afternoon and steaming up the previous day's downpour in the mornings, the obvious omission should be Doherty but then his original inclusion remains a mystery. Brisbane has always been kind to left handed batsmen but left arm slow bowlers have never pulled any cunning stunts on the grassy, hard, bouncy, fast track. Brisbane has taken Perth's mantle as the quickest wicket in Australia and for that reason, Australia will play all four quicks here - even more compelling a reason to play Smith because leggies have been more than useful over a long time at Brisbane. Englishman Doug Wright got a bag here after the Japanese had been defeated and the Americans had gone home with their silk stockings filled. Richie Benaud and Doug Ring performed similar deeds for Australia and of course, Warne could be unstoppable but then, he could turn the ball on polished glass so perhaps his brilliance is an unfair comparison. Smith is none of the former or even one of their smelly socks but at least is provides a difference that the Englishmen still have nightmares about.

Dan Vettori is the most successful left arm Greek Orthodox at Brisbane and his figures of 10 @ 43 are hardly the stuff to push Doherty - basically a useful bowler in shortened forms of the game - into the Test arena against an inform English batting line up which might bat with blindfolds and still milk 4 runs an over from a bull engineered by the Australian selectors.

Mike Hussey might be in for a change of form. His recent Shield hundred may be only part of the reason given that 14 Australian lefties - including mr cricket - have hundreds on this ground. Australia needs him to stand up in this series and frankly, its his last chance to. Perhaps a hundred here and he'll get his capitals back.

England just looks better and better. They have prepared thoroughly and carefully and all the stones have been turned, many of them twice, on their long road to Brisbane. No chaos in their camp, no injuries, no controversy, no doubtful form ... they are ready.

As much as national pride wants to hold back my next sentence, forty years of watching the game and studying how each game develops from weeks before until days after and with a head case hardened by knowing how men perform and when and why, leads me to a simple, obvious conclusion.

Baring rain intervening, England will win in Brisbane and Australia will go to Adelaide in even more disarray.

(As with all Tragics blogs, I would value your comment or input. Just click on "Comments" below, add your thoughts and your name - no anonymous comments are published - as I've never thought mine were the only ideas on the game.)