Usman Khawaja has been ruled out of the second Ashes Test due to his back injury.
The 38-year-old's place in the XI had been under intense scrutiny since back spasms forced him from the field in the victorious first Test and meant he could not open the batting in either innings.
Australia had been set for a selection dilemma given Travis Head's heroic century while he was replacing the out-of-form Khawaja at the top in Perth.
Khawaja completed light training duties during the team's optional session at the Gabba on Monday.
But on Tuesday afternoon, Cricket Australia confirmed he had pulled up sore from his injury and would miss the Test, which begins on Thursday.
It means Head is likely to again partner Jake Weatherald at the top of the order, with Australia opting not to replace Khawaja in the squad.
Usman Khawaja is out of the second Test after the back injury that led to farcical scenes in Perth saw him pull up sore after training at the Gabba (pictured)
The veteran opening batter's absence comes on top of skipper Pat Cummins (pictured) being almost certain to miss the second match of the series as he recovers from a back injury
Australia will also be without paceman Josh Hazlewood, who is out with a hamstring problem
The 38-year-old veteran's absence comes on top of the loss of skipper Pat Cummins and his pace-bowling partner Josh Hazlewood.
Cummins has not played in a match since Australia completed a clean sweep of West Indies in July, when he first noticed soreness in his back.
After being ruled out of the first Test in Perth, both he and coaching staff had eyed off Brisbane as a potential return.
It is understood Cummins has not suffered any further injury, but there is no doubt in selectors' minds that there are tighter turnarounds in the last three Tests of the series.
One other hurdle would likely be Cummins' ability to bowl long spells on back-to-back days, as could be required if England's batting improves in Brisbane.
Hazlewood injured his hamstring playing Sheffield Shield for NSW and was left out of the team for the first Test.
It was rumoured that he might not play any further part in the series due to the seriousness of the injury, but he remains confident of returning in the second half of the series after bowling in the nets alongside his usual skipper last Friday.
Hazlewood bowled for about 45 minutes on a shortened run, after a hamstring strain ruled him out of Australia's eight-wicket win to go up 1-0.

15 hours ago
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