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Marcus Harris missed an opportunity to lock in his spot at the top of Australia's Test order, dismissed for 23 in the second innings in Adelaide.
Marcus Harris will enter the Boxing Day Test under pressure to keep his opening spot after plumbing a 128-year low.
Harris missed a golden opportunity to shore up his position on Sunday, adding just two to his overnight score of 21 before being caught behind off Stuart Broad again.
The 29-year-old has had a tough initiation as a Test opener, including a difficult Ashes tour against the Dukes ball in 2019.
It's unlikely Australia will make any changes to a dominant batting line up for Melbourne, but pressure will be on Harris with Usman Khawaja waiting in the wings.
After scores of three and 23 in Adelaide, Harris now averages just 22.19 after 12 Tests.
That figure is the second-lowest of all men to have opened the batting 20 times for Australia, with only Alec Bannerman lower, between 1880 and 1893.
In Ashes Tests, Harris now averages 10.66, after scores of three and nine not out in the first Test at the Gabba.
There is no doubt Harris is a talented cricketer, with 19 first-class centuries to his name and a knack of turning good scores into big ones.
He also impressed in his first summer against India and Sri Lanka three summers ago, getting plenty of starts in a tough season for Australia's batters.
But he is yet to convert that into performances at Test level, now with 14 straight dismissals below 50 and a reputation for being caught off balls outside off stump.
Selectors stressed at the start of the summer they wanted to give Harris a lengthy run at the spot, particularly with fellow Victorian Will Pucovski out injured.
Australian teammate Travis Head also went in to bat for him on Sunday night, praising the way he had got through the new ball under lights on Saturday.
"It's been quite tough, you have seen a lot of batters struggle between a grassier Gabba wicket ... and a day-night Test match," Head said.
"Having watched him last night against a high quality attack that wanted to ask questions, he batted beautifully.
"He didn't get through today, but that's okay ... He's working hard, he's continuing to ask the right questions.
"I think there's a role for him to play over the next three Test matches.
"All the folks in our dressing room have full confidence in Harry. We have seen that last night the way he played and went about things."
It came after Harris also had to endure a tough period at the start of the Test on Thursday, seeing through the first 10 overs with Jimmy Anderson and Broad both swinging the ball around.
Beyond Khawaja, Queenslander Bryce Street also impressed in the most recent Australia A game against the England Lions while opening alongside Harry Hunt.
LOWEST AVERAGE AS AUSTRALIAN TEST OPENER (minimum 20 innings)
Alec Bannerman 21.44
Marcus Harris 22.19
Rick Darling 26.18
John Dyson 26.25
Reginald Duff 29.20