Steve Waugh wants Australia's No.6 Test batsman to be given the entire summer to prove he belongs.
Filling the problematic position shapes as selectors' most difficult decision leading up to November 23, when the Ashes begin in Brisbane.
Some 20 men have batted at six in the Test side following Mike Hussey's retirement in 2013 - the most recent being Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright in Bangladesh.
Coach Darren Lehmann has already confirmed the No.6 spot is up for grabs again, with the best batsman likely to be picked ahead of an allrounder.
The race is wide open. Maxwell, Cartwright, the Marsh brothers, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Moises Henriques and Marcus Stoinis all have claims of different strength.
Waugh, who is preparing for his annual Captain's Ride cycling event that raises funds for children with rare diseases, believes the leading candidate must play all five Tests against England.
"It's been a bit of a revolving door that position and it doesn't do anybody's confidence any good," former Test skipper Waugh told AAP.
"You'd like to think they will be given at least five Tests to prove themselves.
"Let's pick and stick."
Waugh, who scored six of his 32 Test tons from No.6, expected the stand-out option to become clear during the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield.
"There's 10 names I could throw up. It should be whoever does well in those Shield games," he said.
"Front of the queue are Maxwell and Cartwright ... but you could pull a name out of a hat right now."
Maddinson made his Test debut at six last summer but was discarded after four innings.
Waugh noted the vast majority of Test newcomers at No.6 require some time to adjust.
"You've got to marshal the lower order, that takes a bit of skill and trust. You've got to know your game, you've got to be flexible - it all takes a bit of getting used to," he said.
"Particularly if you bat higher in Shield cricket. Not many Test players bat at No.6 for their state, so you're sort of out of position."
Regarding a likely outcome in the showpiece series, Waugh suggested Australia would win "3-1 or 4-1 if Ben Stokes isn't here".
Waugh will lead a group that is cycling more than 800 kilometres over six days in early November, with Tasmania to host the third edition of the Captain's Ride.
"We want a ride that is difficult because we want to emulate the attitude of the kids, who show great courage and character against the odds ever day," he said.
Share
