Cameron Bancroft has failed to make an impact on the scorers or Australian selectors after he was bowled for a duck in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.
Bancroft, who is yet to score a Test century in his first summer, is under pressure to retain his spot for Australia's four-Test series in South Africa in March.
And he did himself no favours when he was bowled for a seven-ball duck at the SCG on Thursday, beaten between bat and pad trying to drive an angling Stuart Broad delivery.
Bancroft showed signs of promise after making an unbeaten 82 in his debut in Brisbane, but has scored 179 runs in total, averaging just 25.57 across the the five Tests.
He was also unlucky to be run out from a David Warner error between the wickets in Adelaide.
But most concerning for Bancroft is the fact Friday's dismissal marked the fourth time he had been out on the drive this summer.
He was also bowled between bat and pad in Melbourne by Chris Woakes, leaving former Australian Test opener and captain Mark Taylor to point an apparent technical flaw on the front foot on Friday.
"It's been an issue that Cameron Bancroft has had exposed in this series," Taylor told the Nine Network.
"You can see where he has fallen throughout the series to the quickies, it is where you are going to get a lot of Test bowlers bowling to you. A good length, on or around the off stump line.
"If they move slightly away, it is going to bring in the edge and if there is a gap between bat and pad, which there is with Bancroft, then the ball is heading towards the stumps (if it swings back)."
Bancroft's saving grace could come in the fact selectors won't see any of his potential rivals until after the squad for South Africa is picked.
The Sheffield Shield won't resume until after the Big Bash on February 8, while Matt Renshaw is yet to play for the Brisbane Heat and Joe Burns bats down the order.
A potential Shaun Marsh move up the order could remain a possibility if they were to bring Peter Handscomb into the side, but that would mean shifting the Western Australian from where he has had the most success at No.5 and No.6.
CAMERON BANCROFT'S RESULTS THIS SERIES:
1st Test, Brisbane: 5 and 82no
2nd Test, Adelaide: 10 and 4
3rd Test, Perth: 25
4th Test, Melbourne: 26 and 27
5th Test, Sydney: 0 and TBD
