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Sam Konstas had the cricketing world at his feet last December as he made one of the most incredible Test debuts in recent memory - but now he's been axed from Australia's squad for the first Ashes Test.
Jake Weatherald is a chance of taking Konstas's opening spot after edging out Matt Renshaw for a spot in Australia's squad for the opening contest against England.
Selectors on Wednesday kept their options open as they named a 15-man group for the first Test starting in Perth on November 21, with Steve Smith the stand-in captain.
Marnus Labuschagne is back in the squad after being dropped for this year's Tests in the West Indies, but Konstas's awful drop-off in form has cost him his spot.
The 20-year-old was the hottest property in Australian cricket when he raced to 50 off just 52 balls on debut against India in last year's Boxing Day Test, smashing four boundaries and two sixes on his way to a score of 60.
Konstas stunned fans - and the Indian team - by going after fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah with a series of audacious ramp shots, but it was all downhill from there for the New South Welshman.
Sam Konstas (pictured with cricket commentator Grace Hayden) has gone from Australian cricket's penthouse to the outhouse after the naming of the squad for the first Ashes Test
The 20-year-old's name was up in lights last December thanks to his swashbuckling half-century on debut against India (pictured)
But Konstas has struggled badly since then, with a disastrous tour of the West Indies in July (pictured) putting him on the path to being excluded from the Ashes squad
He made 23 and 22 in the final Test against India in Sydney, then failed to get a match on the Aussies' Test tour of Sri Lanka this January.
A disastrous Test series against the West Indies followed in June, with Konstas scoring just 50 runs at an average of 8.33.
He has averaged just 20.33 in the Sheffield Shield this year.
Brendan Doggett and Sean Abbott have also been picked to play England in Perth, with the duo expected to act as reserves behind quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.
Beau Webster and Cameron Green have also both been named, allowing selectors to consider their options over the next fortnight.
Josh Inglis has also been picked in the group, but is expected to act as a back-up batter and wicketkeeper given his ability to cover several bases.
With the in-form Labuschagne all but certain to play in Perth, Weatherald, Green and Webster are realistically fighting over two spots.
If selectors want to play a specialist opener rather than asking Labuschagne to do the job, Weatherald will earn a Test debut at age 31.
With skipper Pat Cummins (left) out injured, paceman Scott Boland (right) will be one of Australia's keys to victory over the old enemy in Perth
Steve Smith (pictured) will stand in as captain until Cummins returns to fitness
But if there were any concerns over Green's ability to bowl big overs in Perth, it is likely selectors will opt for the security of having both him and Webster in the side.
Weatherald has made his case by being the leading run-scorer in the Shield last summer with 906 at an average of 50.33.
The 31-year-old then backed it up with a big century for Australia A against Sri Lanka A in Darwin during the winter, before a steady start to the summer.
His first call-up to a Test squad comes after he had to leave South Australia for Tasmania a little over two years ago in a bid to continue his first-class career.
Renshaw can count himself somewhat unlucky, after scoring a century to start the summer for Queensland, while also looking in good touch for Australia in ODIs.
Meanwhile both Abbott and Doggett's call-ups are notable given there is every chance Australia may have to rotate their quicks on tight turnarounds later in the series.
Australia are hopeful Pat Cummins will return midway through the Ashes, but at age 31 and 33 Doggett and Abbott appear closer to a Test debut than ever before.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD FOR FIRST ASHES TEST:
Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
