AN urgent SOS to the world's No. 1 batsman Aaron Finch remains up in the air, after Australian captain Steve Smith backed the performance of his openers in the run-chase meltdown against New Zealand. 
Selectors have a major decision on their hands over whether to stick to their pre-tournament plans or react to a butchered batting performance that has left Australia's World Twenty20 campaign in the lurch.
The conundrum ahead of tomorrow's second match against Bangladesh in Bangalore isn't made any easier by the fact Finch's replacement at the top of the order, Usman Khawaja, was the only batsman that truly looked the part against the Kiwis.
Instead it was the flailing middle-order that was to blame.
Another side of the equation is Bangalore is the flattest wicket in India where the ball tends to come on nicely and fly through the air, conditions that would suit big hitter Finch down to the ground.
Reversing the original bombshell of dropping Finch would most likely require shifting Shane Watson back down line-up - however, demoting the star all-rounder from his best position opening would mean abandoning a plan that has formed the backbone of Australia's preparations.
Australia's entire strategy has revolved around Watson at the top and David Warner moving into a more dynamic role in the middle order, and the question facing selectors now is whether an eight-run loss to New Zealand in a cut-throat tournament is enough to force them to revert back to square one.
Australia's best hope is for the Black Caps to go on and sweep Pool 2 and leave the second semi-final qualifying spot an open fight between themselves, India and Pakistan.Selectors made a bold tactical call to sideline Finch in the first place, but if Australia - with their poor record in T20 cricket - crashes out of the tournament in the group stage, it would prove highly contentious if the former captain, a proven star who averages 39.82 in this format, was to play no part.