Former Test opener Justin Langer has urged selectors not to discard Ed Cowan just yet, claiming the left-hander has the potential to play a key role in Australia's attempt to win back the Ashes this summer.
Langer backs Cowan for Test recall
Cowan faces an uphill battle to revive his Test career after being dumped during Australia's recent 3-0 Ashes flop in England, with the 31-year-old appearing just once in the series.
However, a Test recall isn't totally out of the question after Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes also failed to nail down a spot when given their chance.
The first few rounds of this season's Sheffield Shield shapes as career-defining for a number of players, with the likes of Shaun Marsh, George Bailey and Adam Voges all keen to push their case for a dream Ashes call-up.
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Langer believes the unsettled nature of the batting line-up in England played a part in Australia's demise.
And although Cowan averages just 31 over his 18 Tests, Langer said the plucky opener shouldn't be written off.
"I like Ed Cowan because in the series before in India, he faced more balls than anyone else in a 4-0 losing tour," Langer said on Tuesday.
"He's been a good player in tough conditions at Bellerive Oval.
"It wasn't that long ago he got his first Test hundred, so it shows he can play.
"He's a really good, steady person around the group."
Langer implored selectors to stick firm by whoever they picked, even if that meant Cowan was overlooked.
"In that last series we had five different teams - five different batting orders," Langer said.
"That's the sort of thing England used to do and we used to laugh at them and we used to beat them all the time.
"I'd like us to get a solid group of people together and maybe have the same team for two or three or four Test matches.
"Back the guys in they'll think will help win the Ashes back and go from there."