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Veteran Aussie opener Chris Rogers is set to miss Australia’s opening Test against the West Indies this week after a being struck in the helmet by a ball at nets training.
The question that’s now being asked is, who should come in to replace him?
Rogers earlier this year announced that he would retire from international cricket after the 2015 Ashes series.
Because of that, this isn’t merely the calling up of an understudy – it’s a full blown audition for the role of future opening batsman for Australia.
More:
» Marsh joins race to replace Rogers – Ronan O’Connell
At this stage, Shaun Marsh and Shane Watson look to be the most likely candidates to take Rogers’ spot and partner with David Warner as an opener in the Test against the West Indies, which begins this Thursday.
Marsh was excellent in the Aussies’ warm-up match against the West Indies Cricket Board XI which took place in Antigua last week. He had a run as an opener and finished with a solid total of 118 in the three-day match.
Form like this should have Marsh as the front runner for Rogers’ spot in my book. In the absence of an obvious replacement, picking the man who is in good form and will have some confidence is always a good philosophy.
However, the selectors might instead to decide to go with Shane Watson as Warner’s partner in the opening stanza, given his previous experience in the position.
Watson has been an opener for Australia on 29 occasions in the past and his average there, of just a tick under 41 runs, is better than his career average of 35.74 across all Tests.
There’s no doubt Watson tends to be a better performed player when he bats higher up the order, but he and Warner are both the type to go hard early, which could make the partnership something of a risky move.
I for one have seen a few too many Watson brainfades to be entirely comfortable with putting him in to open, but time will tell what decision the selectors make.
Rogers absence from the side also leaves the door open for West Australian batsman Adam Voges to come into the side for his Test debut.
Voges looked unlikely to play after being outshone by Marsh in the warm-up match but now seems like a strong change to wear the baggy green for the first time.
The movement of either Marsh or Watson up the order will create a space in the middle order where Voges can fit in.
At 35, Voges would be the second oldest batsman to make his Test debut. He posted a batting average above 104 in 11 Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia last winter.
Mitch Marsh could also be recalled, especially if Watson is used as an opener and the decision is made to lessen his duties as an all-rounder.
Doctor Peter Brukner said he expects Rogers to recover in time for the second test in Jamaica next week, though he won’t train for a few days.
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