Australia's selectors are facing one of their toughest calls in years as fast bowlers Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz jostle for Ashes glory.
Lee replaced an out-of-sorts Kasprowicz in Thursday's breakthrough one-day win and intimidated England's top order with his raw pace in taking 2-27 off 10 hostile overs.
Kasprowicz, 33, has kept Lee, 28, out of the Test side for the past 18 months, but has struggled in the opening weeks of the Ashes tour.
Lee missed Test selection in New Zealand earlier this year despite dominating the one-day series, but his case against England could become too irresistible to ignore when the Ashes starts at Lord's on July 21.
"I have stopped worrying about it now," Lee said of his frustrating wait. "The only possible thing that I can possibly do . . . is every opportunity I get to play for Australia I just want to make sure I go out there and do the right things to get chosen to play in the Ashes series -- whether it be to take wickets or score runs for Australia."
Kasprowicz has flourished in the past 18 months where his ability to seam the ball and extract reverse swing were crucial to series victories on the dusty pitches of Sri Lanka and India.
In 16 Tests since his career was rejuvenated on the tour of Sri Lanka last year, the hard-working Queenslander has more than paid his way, taking 55 wickets at 26.09.
Lee has not added to his 37 Tests and 139 wickets since Steve Waugh's farewell match against India at the SCG in 2003-04.
Kasprowicz would be desperately unlucky if he was overlooked for Lord's, even if he continues to struggle in the one-day series.
But, as former England captain Nasser Hussain has noted, there is a sameness about Australia's attack when he, Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie are together.
The national selectors have done everything possible to usher the trio through in the past 18 months, but it may be time for a rethink.
Lee, now over a shoulder problem, hopes to use the one-day series to mentally unsettle England openers Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss -- and open the door to a Test berth.
Both men looked uncomfortable against Lee at Chester-le-Street on Thursday before Lee had Strauss playing on.
"It's important to get a few scars early in the tour," Lee said.
"I don't mean scars in literally going out there and scaring a person, it's just the mental thing you can get over a batsman if you get him out a few times."
Lee also knows a thing or two about physical scars. He had just recovered from elbow surgery and perhaps came back too early for the 2001 Ashes tour, finishing with only nine wickets at 55.11 in five Tests.
"I would be the first to put up my hand and say I was disappointed with the last Ashes tour, the last campaign here," Lee said.
Lee was overlooked for the opening two Ashes Tests at home in 2003-03 but, on his inclusion for the third at the WACA Ground, he felled and bruised tailender Alex Tudor with a rearing delivery.
He has already tangled with key England allrounder Andrew Flintoff on this tour, with both men bouncing each other in the Twenty20 clash. "You are not out there to hurt a batsman," Lee said.
"You might want to scare him or sort of shake him up to get his wicket. Freddy (Flintoff) is probably the same way, to make a mental point, I think."
- JON PIERIK