Who is going to be Australia’s next Test opener replacing the great David Warner? With a host of options in and outside their current Test squad, the world champions will finally give an answer when the selectors announce the team for the West Indies series on Monday.
It’s not that Australia don’t have any quality option, they actually have a problem of plenty. Within their current setup, they have Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and even Steve Smith among the top candidates while Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft are among the specialists who have opened for Australia in the past.
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Australia Test captain Pat Cummins though isn’t a fan of throwing Smith’s name into the mix who he reckons has been a good job in the middle order.
“I’m pretty happy with (Smith’s) output at No. 4,” Cummins said after Australia’s win over Pakistan in Sydney on Saturday . “Obviously Marnus, Smudge [Smith], Trav and Marsh have been pretty impressive at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. So first instinct isn’t probably to disrupt that.”
With Warner retiring after the Sydney Test, he leaves behind big shoes to fill considering the role he played during his storied career.
“It’s obviously going to be really hard to replicate Davey and what he’s brought to it. I think you look for who is best placed to score runs, really. But I think, in Test cricket, there are some things that remain true – and that is you’ve got to be putting the pressure on the opposition. You’ve got to be ticking over the scoreboard. Not always – but most of the time – you’ve got to keep the scoreboard moving along,” Cummins added.
Labuschagne though has thrown his weight behind the idea of promoting Smith as opener.
“He (Smith) averages 58 at five, 61 at four and 67 at three – so it seems like the higher he goes, the more he averages,” Labuschagne told SEN. “I’ve got no doubt if that’s the way we go, he will do very well. He really wants it, he wants that motivation… waiting to bat is not his forte; he wants to get out there straightaway.”
While Labuschagne himself isn’t averse to him opening, he’s pretty happy at No.3.
“I’m happy to do what the team needs, but I do love batting at three; I love the variety of the role. At the moment, it could be anyone. I’ve seen the media throwing around Travis Head, throwing around me, obviously the three openers outside of the squad – Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris. Smudge seems like the lead frontrunner, the one that really wants it,” he said.
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