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When analysing the current make-up of the Australian cricket team, it is easy to see the biggest weakness is at the top of the batting order.
Most recently, in the Test match against South Africa, the top order failed as Australia crumbled to be 3/40, with three out of the four first batsmen failing to make it into double figures.
This sort of score early in the innings has become all too familiar for Australia, with middle order players such as Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey having to come to the rescue.
The likely return of Shane Watson for the next Test against South Africa in Adelaide will force the selectors to drop one of the culprits at the top of the order. It appears to be a battle between the unprepared David Warner and the inexperienced Rob Quiney to retain this spot.
Warner’s history may earn him a reprieve, but he will continue to be under the microscope either way, as his Test form this year has been ordinary, having only managed two scores above 50 in 11 attempts.
Another batsman with pressure on him is the veteran Ricky Ponting. He has averaged a meagre 21 runs since the last Australian summer and the selectors may be soon inclined to put their full backing behind some younger prospects.
Among the potential contenders to come into the side are Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja. Both have had some experience in the test team previously.
Hughes was in favour with the selectors until last summer, when his form saw him make way for Ed Cowan, while Khawaja was also dropped last summer.
The two have both produced some good form in domestic cricket, with Hughes making 114 and Khawaja 138 in the last two weeks.
The Australian selectors need to act quickly to fix this issue at the top of the order, as the side cannot continue to rely on its middle order masters.
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