Australia’s chances of retaining the Ashes hinge on getting their top order sorted in the next two Tests against the West Indies.

They are leaving it late but after shuffling players in and out of the batting line-up over the past 18 months, they are still a long way from being settled.

It’s the only weakness in their line-up and one that England could exploit if they have their pace guns Joffra Archer and Mark Wood fit and firing for the tour Down Under later this year.

Against a top-tier team it would have cost them victory in Barbados but the West Indies have a fragile batting unit from top to bottom and they were unable to cash in on having the Aussies 3-22 in the first innings and 4-65 in the second.

Steve Smith is hoping to be back from his finger injury for next week’s second Test in Grenada and he will add some much-needed stability to the batting but Australia cannot be so heavily reliant on their 36-year-old star run-scorer forever.

“He’s not a certainty, he’s a got a few things to tick off over the next few days,” said captain Pat Cummins after the first Test win.

“The next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. We’ll know more in the next few days.”

After the constant stuffing around with openers over the past 18 months, the Aussies have snookered themselves into sticking with the top three of Usman Khawaja in the final stretch before retirement, Sam Konstas at the other end of his career and Cameron Green on the comeback trail from back surgery.

The top order cannot be rebuilt in a day but changing it around again would be continuing the same cycle of instability.

Cameron Green. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Konstas needs to tighten technique

Whether it was the lack of first-class cricket over the past few months or the growing pains of being in his third Test, it’s clear Konstas needs to work on his technique.

There was no ramping or circus tricks in Barbados from the 19-year-old prodigy but he did clear his front leg several times, short-form style, in a bid to counterattack.

He fell victim to a good delivery when he was trapped in front for three in the first dig but he looked like a batter not knowing whether to attack or defend in making five while facing 38 balls the second time around.

Konstas should have been on his way without scoring, dropped twice in the cordon as he nicked away.

The new-ball duo of Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph peppered him just on or outside off stump and for the most part, Konstas appeared all at sea.

Not a good sign for someone who wants to be a long-term Test opener.

Green can be no higher than 4 long term, Smith to three

Green has made a not so grand total of 22 runs from four trips to the crease at first drop since his recall at the World Test Championship final earlier this month.

Whether it’s rust from missing so much cricket as he rehabbed his back or that his footwork is not nimble enough for the top order, he looks like a fish out of water in the top order.

Josh Inglis went cheaply in each innings against the Windies as well (five and 12) so if Smith can suit up in Grenada, he should go back up to three. 

While he prefers four, the team cannot afford that luxury at the moment with scratchy openers and no one else with the ability to provide stability if an early wicket falls.

It’s worth noting that Smith averages 67.07 when going in at the crucial spot just after the openers, easily the best return from anywhere he’s batted in the order, nearly six runs better per innings than at four.

The Green experiment at three should only a stopgap option while he cannot bowl – once he’s sending down 10-15 overs per innings, he can’t then be padding up as soon as he gets back into the sheds so he will likely slot in at four or return to six as the team’s true all-rounder at the expense of Beau Webster.

“Going in to last week, he’s hitting the ball really well. He’s moving really well. He had a Test match where it obviously didn’t go to plan,” Cummins said.

“The message is not to look too much into that. We’re really happy with where his game is placed. I dare say he’ll get a decent run at No.3.”

With a top score of 59 and a vital 61 in the second innings, Travis Head probably should have batted at four ahead of Inglis, who is another player suited to the middle order when the shine is well and truly off the new ball and he can play his natural attacking game.

Nathan Lyon. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Lyon’s usage at career-low levels

It’s not a concern at this stage but is Nathan Lyon not being trusted enough by Pat Cummins.

Or is it perhaps that he has just been a victim of circumstances due to the nature of the pitches in recent times?

Lyon has sent down just 223.4 overs from his past eight Tests, which averages out at 27.93 per match.

In his previous 129 outings in a baggy green cap, he averages 42.32. 

He was given just 5.2 overs in the first innings at Kensington Oval and 2.4 at the end of day three when the tailenders were swinging for the fences, claiming 1-28 and 2-20.

Lyon’s still managed 24 wickets at a respectable 27.25 in the past eight Tests since Adelaide last summer, heavily boosted by the 14 he bagged in the two-match tour of Sri Lanka.