Cameron Bancroft must be selected for the first Test of the Ashes. His form simply demands it, and it would open up the way for David Warner to bat at first drop.
Most people believe Bancroft can bat as an opener, at No.6, or at No.7.
He is only a part-time keeper and if he drops Joe Root and Root goes on to make a century, his selection could backfire. Bancroft could bat at No.6 and if the out-of-form Matthew Renshaw fails in the first couple of Tests he could then slot into the opener position.
Renshaw could be dropped now, so that Bancroft he could go straight into the opening slot, but we would still have the No.6 spot to fill.
There is another way.
Bat Dave Warner at first drop. Then Bancroft and Renshaw can open together. Warner is perfect for No.3 – he can be prone to nicking the new red ball if it is moving around and he can play his usual aggressive game with less risk from first drop.
If there is an early wicket, it would not be that much different to what role Warner plays now.
This way all the current batsmen drop down a spot and the No.6 spot becomes filled.
Brad Haddin should have never been dropped for Peter Nevill. Nevill was then the victim of the Hobart Test against South Africa and we haven’t been able to cement down a No.6 since Mike Hussey, proving he should never have been discarded.
A weak No.6 position is putting too much pressure on the No.7 slot. Dropping everyone down a spot shores up the middle order and should help.
My starting 11:
Cameron Bancroft
Matthew Renshaw
Dave Warner
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Peter Handscomb
Peter Nevill
Mitchell Starc
Pat Cummins
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
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