Cummins is tracking nicely, we'll wait and see – Smith

Australia are keeping their cards close to the chest a day out from the pink-ball Ashes Test in Brisbane. Pat Cummins wasn't named in the squad as he continues rehabbing a back injury, but his lively spells and extended batting stints in the nets this week have fuelled talk of a late twist.

Stand-in skipper Steve Smith fronted the pre-match press conference and only deepened the intrigue. He confirmed that Cummins would lead if he was fit. "A whole heap of things are on the table… I can't give you a great deal right now, I apologise," Smith said.

"He looks pretty good to me, the way he's bowled in the nets. Obviously, games are a different intensity for sure, but he's tracking really nicely. He knows his body well and we'll wait and see," Smith added.

Smith also weighed in on the flexible batting-order debate floated by Cummins and Andrew McDonald and fanned by Travis Head, who called batting orders "overrated" after his historic success opening in the run-chase at Perth. Smith offered a more grounded take.

"Pink ball, anything's possible," he said. "We've been pretty open in the past around maybe having two nightwatchmen and things like that. It's a completely different game. You've got to play what's in front of you at any given stage.

"But I'm not sure I completely agree with those two [Cummins and Head] on batting orders being overrated. It's nice to be in a similar role and get used to that role over and over again. It can change in games, and maybe that's the way forward. But having certain spots for one innings and other spots for a second innings, I'm not sure. It's nice to have a single role and try to get used to that as much as possible."

Smith also confirmed a small but intriguing tweak for the Gabba: he will wear 'eye black' tape under his eyes after trialling it in training to combat glare under lights. For guidance, he messaged Shivnarine Chanderpaul.

"He said the strips, and he thinks it blocks out 65 percent of the glare. He also said, 'I've seen photos, and you're wearing them the wrong way'. So yesterday, I put them on the right way. I agree with him. I think it certainly stops the glare. Yeah, I'll be wearing them."