Batting guru Michael Di Venuto is preaching the value of patience as Australia's inexperienced top six attempt to cover the immense void left by Steve Smith and David Warner.
Di Venuto, the Tasmanian opener who scored a staggering 25,200 first-class runs, served as Australia's batting coach from 2013 until 2016.
It was a period in which Smith and Warner became two of the best batsmen in the world, with the former paying tribute to Di Venuto's calming influence during his first Allan Border Medal acceptance speech in 2015.
Di Venuto replied "never say never" when asked about a return to Cricket Australia (CA) coaching ranks, but added he is "very happy" mentoring English club Surrey and working as an assistant at the Adelaide Strikers this summer.
The fact the 45-year-old never played a single Test underlines how Australia's batting depth has declined since their golden era.
Di Venuto, loved and lauded by players for his ability to help them mentally and technically, points out it is an unprecedented summer for Australia's batting order.
"There's a lot more pressure on them because the team has lost its two consistent run-scorers. Our two superstars aren't allowed to play," he told AAP.
"It's going to be hard work. Obviously the win will do a lot for their confidence, we've just got to be patient with these guys.
"It's not like what it was back in the day but you can't worry about that. Everyone just has to get behind these boys.
"Because they're clearly good players. It's just going to take time for them to adapt to international cricket, especially when you haven't got the two superstars that are easy to bat around."
Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh, who have played a combined 73 Tests, will shoulder the biggest burden in the Boxing Day Test as Australia hunt a 2-1 lead in their four-match series against India.
The veterans will be flanked by three batsmen to have made Test debuts in recent months plus either Peter Handscomb or Mitch Marsh, neither of which can feel confident about their place in the XI.
Di Venuto, a golden example of Australia's coaching drain given he recently helped Surrey win their first county title in 16 years and is mentoring some of England's best young talent, has returned home temporarily following an invitation from Strikers coach Jason Gillespie.
Smith and other players pleaded with CA to do more to retain Di Venuto in 2016.
"You never say never because you don't know what's around the corner," Di Venuto said of a hypothetical full-time return to Australia.
"I'm really happy with what I'm doing at the moment. I work with some wonderful people at Surrey."
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