The first acknowledged Aboriginal to have played Test cricket for Australia, Gillespie's stop-start career is for the first time threatened by something other than injury.

There has never been any doubt over the Sydney native's talent but an ability to move the ball prodigiously in either direction at pace has long been overshadowed by constant absenteeism.

Now the question is not one of fitness but of form, and Gillespie will have to raise his game after a disappointing last year.

Having been an unused squad member at the 1996 World Cup, he missed the 1999 contest through injury and also watched the successful 2003 defence from the sidelines.

This misfortune has been perpetuated on the Test stage, where due to a series of injuries he played only 10 matches in four years following a 1996 debut against the West Indies.

His appearances have not been so restricted in recent times and he has become a virtual ever-present in the last two years, usurping the brilliant Brett Lee for the honour of partnering Glenn McGrath.

This summer is Gillespie and McGrath's third tour of England and the former will be particularly keen to return to Lord's, where he is on the honours board for his 5-53 last time, and Headingley, where he claimed a Test-best 7-37 four years earlier.

The pair are now statistically the most successful opening partnership in Australian history but this will surely be their final Ashes tour in tandem with McGrath in his 36th year.

Michael Kasprowicz and Shane Warne, the likely support artillery, were also in England four years ago and 30-year-old `Dizzy' is comfortably the youngest of the quartet.

Given the pedigree of McGrath and Warne, not to mention their records against the old enemy, it seems unlikely that Gillespie will finally seize the role of premier strike bowler this summer.

Indeed, the mutterings of his failing rhythm and confidence suggest he might be the first of the experienced foursome to leave the international scene.