Mark Waugh has urged Australia's selectors to "grow some kahunas" by dropping Pat Cummins for Cam Green for Friday night's T20 World Cup blockbuster against England.
Australia followed up their embarrassing 89-run loss to New Zealand with a scratchy seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday night.
Despite getting the much-needed win, the match in Perth raised fresh concerns about the form of captain Aaron Finch and Test skipper Pat Cummins.
Finch posted a scratchy 31 not out off 42 balls, while Cummins was smacked for 20 runs in the final over of Sri Lanka's innings on the way to figures of 1-36 from four overs.
Cummins' 0-46 against NZ was the most runs he's conceded in his 48-match international T20 career.
It was also the third time he had gone at more than 11 an over in the past five weeks, marking the most difficult period of his T20 career.
Dropping Cummins would have seemed unthinkable at the start of the World Cup, but Waugh says the time is right to pull the trigger.
"We look so far off the pace it's not funny," Waugh told RSN on Wednesday.
"I think the selectors have been very, very conservative for the last six months. It's time to grow some kahunas I reckon.
"I'd bring Cameron Green in and I'd bring him in for Pat Cummins, and I'd let Cameron Green open the batting.
"That's the one change I would definitely make. I know it's a bit of a gamble, it leaves your bowling a bit short.
"But I think Cameron Green can bowl four overs as good as any of the other bowlers at the moment.
"Aaron Finch's innings was torturous. I don't think he can open the innings in the next game. If he plays, I don't think he can open."
The experiment of Green opening the batting was a huge success in India last month, with the 23-year-old posting scores of 61 off 30 balls and 52 off 21 balls, along with a score of five when he was run out.
But he struggled with scores of 14, 1, and 1 upon his return to Australia before being dropped as the team ramped up its World Cup preparations.
Australia need to beat England, Ireland and Afghanistan in order to have a chance of progressing to the semi-finals.
A loss to England would all but end Australia's hopes of defending their title.
"The way we are playing, we're not even going close to winning this tournament," Waugh said.
"There are lots of individual players who seem to have lost the plot.
"Hopefully they can have a good couple of days, just have a rethink on everyone's own individual games and improve a lot, because they need to."
Legspinner Adam Zampa, who missed the win over Sri Lanka after contracting COVID-19 for a second time, is a chance to return against England at the MCG.
