Ever since Jonathan Trott made a century on his debut during the 2009 Ashes at The Oval, England's number three Test batting slot has been in safe hands.
The 32-year-old has gone on to score 3763 runs at an average of 46.45 from his 49 outings, which has included nine centuries.
However, the news this morning that Trott will leave England's Ashes squad with immediate effect because of a stress-related illness has meant that captain Alastair Cook and coach Andy Flower must decide who will replace the Cape Town-born batsman in a role that he has carried out with such distinction.
While Trott's health is clearly the most important factor, Sports Mole has picked out the two players who we believe are most likely to fill the void for the remaining four Tests in Australia.
Ian Bell
The hero of England's summer Ashes success, Bell is regarded by many to be the logical choice to step in for Trott.
The reasoning behind such a school of thought is obvious. After all, the 31-year-old is a high-class, experienced international who when on form is one of the easiest on-the-eye batsmen that England can call upon.
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What's more, the right-hander has recent runs under his belt against the Australians, having recorded three centuries at Trent Bridge, Lord's and Chester-le-Street only four months ago.
Such performances were produced at number five, though - a position that Bell has really made his own of late. Is it worth risking such form by disrupting the norm?
Joe Root
He may only have made 12 Test appearances for England, but Root has moved from six to two and back down to six again in the batting order. If nothing else, it shows that the 22-year-old is adaptable.
That would be doing the Yorkshireman a grave disservice, though, as his batting average of 39.55 highlights.
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While the Test was already way beyond England, Root's display in the second innings at The Gabba was eerily reminiscent of Trott as the 22-year-old dug in for his unbeaten 26 off 86 deliveries in just over two hours. Also notable was the way that he calmly dealt with both Mitchell Johnson's pace and verbal goading.
Obviously moving Root for a third time and into a brand new role would represent an element of risk, but very little has fazed the youngster so far.
Sports Mole's verdict: Joe Root
Of course, if Root does get the nod, it opens up a whole new can of worms for Cook, Flower and the selectors. Who bats at six? It may even need considering if Bell leaps up to three, with Root potentially replacing him at five.
It's a position that has caused England large degrees of uncertainty in recent years, probably ever since Andrew Flintoff announced his retirement in 2009.
Eoin Morgan and James Taylor have both been trialled and ultimately discarded, for now at least. Jonny Bairstow, who is on the tour, has also held the position, while Root is the current occupant.
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There is a real feeling that Bairstow is the next cab off the rank and it's difficult to look beyond that. He has more experience than the alternatives - Ben Stokes and Gary Ballance - including four outings during the summer's Ashes.
Where Stokes and Ballance are concerned, the major worry is how much cricket have they played in the last month? Not a lot.
Stokes may benefit from the fact that he is an all-rounder, amid rumours that England are keen to deploy a fourth seamer on Adelaide's flat surface, while Ballance is a left-hander - a style which Johnson is nowhere near as comfortable facing. Logic would point to Bairstow's inclusion, though.
Liam Apicella
