As moments to blow it go, Ed Cowan could have picked a better one.

His first Test on his adopted home ground, on a wicket he’d said during the week he had “conquered”.

With the man he replaced in the team, Phil Hughes, making 86 and another two openers in Australia’s top six.

Against a Sri Lankan attack rated the worst to visit Australian shores by former Test quick Rodney Hogg.

Playing a similar shot to the one that got him out when set on 53 in Perth against South Africa.

And with Indian and Ashes tours around the corner.

Perhaps this was not the greatest timing.

Cowan likes to point out he’s not just a blocker, but his attempt to pull Chanaka Welegedara when on four at Bellerive wasn’t pretty.

It came after he was caught in the deep at the WACA after the trap had been set by Dale Steyn.

It could have been worse, though, when he nicked the first ball he faced to a diving Angelo Mathews at third slip, only for the chance to go to ground.

Australia’s unorthodox top order has been crying out for an Ed Cowan – the Ed Cowan that made 136 to let the fearsome South African pace attack know they were in a fight in Brisbane.

That courageous knock had all but booked his trips to India in February and the UK in June, but how much credit does one innings buy?

Two decent knocks out of five against the Proteas ain’t bad, as Cowan also said this week.

It’s two out of six for the summer now and that lone hundred from 18 innings.

Hughes has three tons and he’s a natural opener.

And it seems only a matter of time before former No.3 Usman Khawaja’s talent can be ignored no longer.

Batting is all about timing and unfortunately Cowan’s could have been sweeter.