Whether you view Nasser Hussain's retirement as an act of selfishness or selflessness, there is no denying the repercussions it will have on England's batting order.
When Hussain skipped off the Lord's turf with a match-winning century under his belt, England had more than a series lead over New Zealand to ponder.
With Andrew Strauss's debut performance exceeding all expectations, England were presented with a selection dilemma if not unwelcome, then certainly perplexing.
But then Hussain stunned everyone by placing his willow on the rack for the last time, thus administering a curative dose of paracetamol to selectors.
The worth of spinner Ashley Giles' place at Headingley is now England's biggest selection issue, but with captain - and opener - Michael Vaughan set to return from injury there is much more to chew over.
Did Strauss do enough at the top of the innings to demote Vaughan to number three, four or even five?
Vaughan has suggested he would be prepared to move down, and for the betterment of the team the skipper may have to take a leaf out of his predecessor's book.
His form since taking the captaincy last summer has generally been a notch or two below what he showed in 2002, when he was Test cricket's leading run-scorer.
 Key has been in rare form in county cricket, but is there room for him? |
In short, Vaughan has more on his mind these days than batting and warrants a change.
The right move would seem to be for England to keep Strauss and Marcus Trescothick together, retain Mark Butcher at three, Graham Thorpe at five and slot Vaughan in at four.
But will England do it? Strauss hopes so, though understandably the awkward newcomer isn't banking on it.
"I am an opening batsman so deep down I'd prefer to open, but at the same time I've played one Test match and I'm very grateful to be in and around the Test team," Strauss said.
"I will bat wherever they tell me to bat."
Vaughan is no stranger to sitting in the dressing-room with pads on, waiting to bat.
He batted at three, four and as low as six at the start of his career when Mike Atherton was still around. A rookie then, Vaughan boasted a commendable cumulative average of 33 in 20 innings in those positions.
Quite where the centrally contracted Paul Collingwood fits into England's plans is a topic worthy of great debate.
Collingwood may be itching to add to his two Test caps, but is he an automatic inclusion if England decide their attack is strong enough and do away with Giles on the pace-friendly Headingley pitch?
Recent form, and his overall profile, would suggest not. One of England's many forgotten men, Rob Key, is presently screeching at England selectors on the county circuit.
Four centuries and an 86 in his last six knocks for Kent - including two against New Zealand - is an excellent return that cannot have escaped David Graveney and his fellows.
Key is not in the Headingley squad, yet could well figure at some stage this summer. But where would he bat? Don't start.
MMIX
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I am an opening batsman so deep down I'd prefer to open 
