Just as clear-headed is the realisation that, at 35, Smith’s powers are waning in much the same way as they will for all players who have put themselves through the “grind” of more than 100 Test matches.

While it is true that Khawaja has enjoyed a regeneration in his late 30s, he also spent three years out of the Test side between 2019 and 2022, and before that had never been as consistently chosen.

For players with as many miles on the clock as Smith, the best moves have generally been down the order to five and six, rather than up.

Smith’s campaign to open, and then not to open, also demonstrated the lighter touch of decision-makers around the team in the era of Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald. This has been construed at times as a case of the selectors making themselves redundant, as the players run the show.

But by humouring Smith, letting him have four Tests at the top, and duly finding out how challenging it can be, the selectors also sent a message down the chain into Sheffield Shield ranks. Essentially, “we want to see big runs from someone”.

They have not been wholly convinced by the likes of Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw.

Instead, they are looking ardently for someone to show the hunger for consistent big scores that Smith, Khawaja, Warner and even Travis Head all demonstrated before their elevation to the Test side.

By running the clock down with Smith’s flight of fancy, Bailey, McDonald and Tony Dodemaide have allowed more time for others to emerge. Namely the rising star of 19-year-old Sam Konstas, but also the highly respected South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney.

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Thirty-one years ago, the panel then led by Laurie Sawle did something similar following the decision to drop Allan Border’s deputy and opener Geoff Marsh. Over a period of 15 months, they tried Wayne Phillips, Tom Moody and Justin Langer as temporary openers, while also promoting David Boon from number three. None looked like long-term plays.

In that time, a young NSW opener called Michael Slater hammered a 1000-run summer in his second season, and jumped the queue to become Mark Taylor’s opening partner for the 1993 Ashes tour and beyond.

Smith’s time at the top may appear wasted to some, but it has also bought time for others.