Brisbane, Dec. 3 -- The absence of Australia's run-making rock coupled with the pink ball's enduring mysteries has left the Ashes leaders still ruminating on their best combination for the Gabba's day-night Test less than 24 hours before it is due to begin.
The home side, up 1-0 in the NRMA Insurance series, have not shut down the prospect of Pat Cummins making a shock return in Brisbane even as his captaincy fill-in Steve Smith initially let out a short giggle when asked about it on match eve.
Cummins was not named in Australia's squad for this Test nor did his team take the opportunity to add him to it when the injured Usman Khawaja was excused from duties this week. But the possibility of his earlier-then-anticipated return from a back...