The lengthy discussions selectors needed to finalise the Test squad have highlighted the uncertainty over the country's batting stocks entering the new era of Australian cricket.
As many as seven players were considered for four berths in Australia's top six before Rod Marsh's panel eventually settled on Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges and Mitchell Marsh to bat around David Warner and Steve Smith.
Rarely has there been this much debate at the selection table over so many positions in the Test side, however the retirements of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and Chris Rogers threw the door wide open. 
And there is every chance the 11 chosen for the final Test of the summer will be markedly different to the side that takes the field in Brisbane next week. Barring injury, Smith and Warner are the only batsmen who can consider themselves certainties for the six Tests.
Burns, Khawaja, Voges and Mitchell Marsh have the inside running for now, but should they not fire in Brisbane or Perth they will come under immense pressure from Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh and Michael Klinger.
"I don't like mentioning blokes but on this occasion, without giving away what was discussed at the meeting, it warrants because they were all that close," Marsh said.
"We spent the most time on all the batting positions, with the exception of the captain and vice captain.
"If some blokes show they can handle it then you would stick with them. If they show they can't handle the pressure it's up to us to decide if they're worthy of further selection.
"I don't think we can guarantee anyone more than what we have at the moment. We've chosen them for two Test matches. It's professional sport, it's a brutal decision sometimes that has to be made but they've got to be made."
The most contentious decision was the call to pick Burns ahead of West Australian youngster Cam Bancroft.
Burns, 26, was given the nod for several reasons, Marsh said. He made twin half-centuries in the Sydney Test, scored close to 800 Shield runs at more than 50 last summer and would have played in Bangladesh had the tour not been cancelled. His experience at the Gabba did not count against him either.
"He's got more runs than the other contenders," Marsh said. "He averages more than the other contenders. He got two 50s in his last Test match, [he was] extremely unlucky not to be going to the West Indies and England, he was chosen to go to Bangladesh, would have opened the batting there. Any other explanation?"
Bancroft had shown considerable ability in his 24-game career but four centuries was not enough to warrant Test selection. Burns has eight in 60 games, and a slightly superior first-class average of 41 to 37.
"He's a good young player, he's as tough as nails, and we all think he has got what it takes to play Test cricket," Marsh said.
"But we think he's a few runs shy at the moment; he's a few hundreds shy.
"And we'd like to pick him when he's in sparkling form and getting first-class hundreds, that is when we'd really like to pick a young player."
Klinger, 35, who averages 39, but is one of the finest current players yet to wear the baggy green, lost out to Burns and Khawaja due to a policy to pick younger players in 50-50 calls.
"I think that's very fair," Marsh said.
But Marsh said the start of Smith and Warner's reign was not the time for "wild experimentation".
"I think we had to be very measured in what we did with this team to allow the new captain the best chance of getting off [to a good start]," Marsh said.
"It's all very well saying `pick youth and go with youth all the time' but you have got to pick the best side."
Marsh said he had faith all-rounder Mitch Marsh could improve his batting to justify continued selection at No.6, and that Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc were bowling so well he had no qualms playing two left-armers in the team.
Australia's 12-man squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle.