Both Australia and England have one conundrum to solve before their relentless Test schedules gather pace once again.
With Chris Rogers no more and Adam Lyth likely to be sent back to the shires, perhaps for good, a couple of opening batsmen need to be sourced.
There are other areas that will have to be addressed – the respective middle orders, the identity of a second spinner – but these aren’t as pressing as who is going to go in first.
If it really comes to it, both in Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates, a solitary spinner could be used (not really advisable but not out of the question) and there are other candidates that spring to mind with regards to numbers four to six.
Yet who strolls out with David Warner and Alastair Cook in October will, and rightly should, take up a greater percentage of the selectorial discussions.
If nothing else, the recently concluded Ashes series highlighted the need for good, old-fashioned, pragmatic batsmanship. Only Rogers and, to a slightly lesser extent, Cook demonstrated that, for all the increased tempo of the modern game, there remains a place for some kind of normality.
Despite the inane talk of the pitches being too bowler-friendly, the former demonstrated that if there is a will there is a way to prosper. Wickets are allowed to seam, just as they are allowed to bounce steeply or spin sharply. It is what it is and the challenge is to cope with what’s thrust in front of you.
That particular task may not present itself again until 2019 when Australia visit these shores again, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt for an individual to be found who can use this particular kind of methodology.
The constant of Warner, who isn’t going anywhere, is a plus as his way of operating should enable an easier transition for any newcomer.
There is plenty to be said for having an opener who scores at a fair lick at the other end; it prevents the scoreboard from stagnating and if the pressure to score is relatively absent, the partner can go about his business without as much restrictive pressure.
Add to this the presence of Steve Smith at number three – surely a move to four is unlikely – and there is a buffer either side.
Quite who they go for given an obvious dearth of outstanding candidates is anybody’s guess, but the opportunity now exists to think long rather than short-term.
The same train of thought has to exist among the England hierarchy, who are likely to replace Lyth for the trip to the desert in October.
The Yorkshireman can definitely play but all of the ingredients for success at the top level don’t seem to be there. That’s no crime but with no improvement in evidence over the five games, the decision is likely to be one he won’t want to hear.
That leaves something of a dilemma. Talk is already doing the rounds of Moeen Ali moving up to the top for the Pakistan series so a second spinner can be accommodated, and that isn’t too wild an idea.
But come the first Test in Durban on Boxing Day, when England revert to type with a solitary spinner, that plan will be rendered useless. In the situation they find themselves, they could do worse than look towards the example set by Warner.
When the left-hander first received the call for Test duty how many, honestly, thought it was a good call? A short-form thrasher in the five-day game? Come on now.
But ability can be transferred and Warner is now a consistent performer whom most teams would happily snap up should he find evidence of a grandparent born elsewhere in the cricket-playing world.
To this end, it’s worth taking a punt on Alex Hales. The Nottinghamshire man is far from the perfect batsman but he scores freely, he has shown he can perform in the international environment and going back to the likes of Nick Compton, Michael Carberry and Sam Robson would be a retrograde step.
Cook will play as Cook does, he’s too long in the tooth for changing and he has no real need to, and somebody of a more attacking mindset could be a bonus, especially if Ian Bell can rediscover his mojo at first wicket down.
It may have the hint of a gamble but, as will be the case with Rod Marsh et al, nothing ventured and all that.
Casper
Guest
Australia's strategy prior to the recent bunch of selectors was to blood the young up-and-comers down the order then promote them once they found their feet. Worked with Boon, Ponting, Smith so looks to me like Joe Burns is following that track. I wouldn't go with 2 new openers, need to settle the batting order down. We were also found out by having too many left handers in the line up, that needs consideration.
Andrew
Guest
It would be a mistake to put burns to open, Khawaja plays pace much better and burns plays spin better so we should put Khawaja as opener and burns at 5
Andrew
Guest
Anybody remember how nervous and underwhelming was Hussey's debut. That said, Voges may only last a year and a bit but his value may be wider, as others seem to recognize. Agree, with you guys about Bancroft - he needs another year to develop his game. Khawaja should be Warner's partner because of his skill against the quicks and is a classy player . Getting Voges in at #4 with Burns back at #5 seems logical. Ferguson for Voges would be my like for like. Someone like Handscomb might be worth gold if he were continue his development as a batsman but also if he were to move states and get a shot at keeping. Wade's deficiencies in this respect do not appear to have been addressed. To succeed Nevill needs to re-learn his leg-glance! So in the process of rebuilding, a judicious blend of multi-skilled long-form cricketers would seem best instead of the hit/miss picks of the pre-Argus lot.
Don Freo
Guest
Warner doesn't "tonk" with impunity. He hasn't for years.
Don Freo
Guest
I think ODIs are excellent preps for Tests for top order batsmen. They face 2 new balls and have plenty of time to build an innings. Ideal for preparing an opener. Not so useful for middle order batsmen who have to force the pace. Agree, Chris, that that is why Burns is there. These guys need some cricket.
Don Freo
Guest
Manufacture an opener. Put Jonny Bairstow up there. He has guts and he'll attack. He'll learn partnering Cook too. Shaun Marsh is not finished for Oz. He averaged 45 on the England tour and only failed in one Test.
really
Guest
Very Eloquently Put. Australian Cricket's plans for the top order were significantly disrupted by the tragic events of last November. I'd Imagine that player would have also had a pretty significant role to play in this past ashes campaign at number 3
really
Guest
Personally For Australia I'd Move Warner to 3. He's the Vice Captain now and should be expected to bat like a batsmen and not just someone to Tonk at the top of the order with impunity. That would then Move Smith to 4. where he has been very successful and with Voges a 5 that is an Experienced and Reliable Middle order which should help transition in Mitch Marsh at 6 (for a few more series) and a new Wicket keeper at 7. So that leaves the openers. Kawaja and Burns Both have test experience and an opening partnership that has established itself as Successful against some of the best fast bowling on the planet. Bancroft, is Unlucky but is Next in line for Marsh's Number 6 spot Lineup. Burns, Kawaja, Warner(vc), Smith(C), Voges, Marsh, Wicketkeeper, Bowlers
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I have a feeling that the fact that Burns has been selected to open the ODI's is actually a bit of a selection looking forward to the tests. I know that opening in ODI's and tests are often very different, and teams often have players who generally bat further down the order in tests open in ODI's but in this case, I would think that Burns selection to open in the ODI's would be a strange one purely looking at the best ODI batsmen in Australia. I think he's selected just as much to have a chance to try to build a partnership with Warner in the ODI's with a view to continuing that in the tests. There have been a number of young players show signs of being good, the latest being Bancroft. So many of the others were really good a season or two ago but were unable to back it up the next season. Which is one reason why I'd really like to see Bancroft have at least one more shield season before picking him. If he can back it up and have another strong season, then maybe he comes into contention, right now it would be a bit of a gamble. But then it always is, even if you select someone who's been around for a while. Up until November last year there was very little conjecture about Rogers replacement. But then tragedy struck and the one player who was clearly the man to replace Rogers is no longer around and behind him we see one of the reasons why he was the clear choice was not just that he was good, but that nobody else was really close.
SDHoneymonster
Guest
In fairness a lot of his swishing was down to the fact he was batting down at 8 with the tail and trying to score quick runs. He didn't get into the side playing like that - he's trying to adapt to a new role. I wouldn't be opening with him either though,, which means Hales is pretty much the only place left to turn, although in the likes of Burns and Duckett there are some good young players as back-up.
Andy
Guest
Perfect pope, Warner, Khawaja,burns and smith is the perfect top 4
Andy
Guest
Bearfax I think you are right and I think khaaaja will end up getting the opener spot and burns the Middle order
Bakkies
Guest
Who knows what will happen to to Lyth. I remember Butcher being out of his depth in a few series than had a career defining innings at Headingley in 2001. Had a more than decent career afterwards. VVS Laxman was the same a walking duck in visits to Australia we all know what happened after that. Has Lyth got in him to turn it out? Current day test cricket doesn't seem to have the patience in giving players a chance to get better.
Ed Lamb
Guest
Agreed....Ali could only be used as a short-term UAE stop-gap unless he improves a lot and plays the fast short ball better.
Nudge
Guest
What I really can't understand is why everyone wants a 29 year old, who has a first class average of a touch under 40, who didn't look mentally strong enough when he played test cricket, when you have a 25 year old who has a first class record a tick under 46 who virtually no one is talking about
Old fashioned views
Guest
I am not trying to bag Moen Ali, he seems like a nice guy. But lets be honest, a test opener he is not. I have never seen a guy either punish a ball off the meat of his bat, or miss it by 2 inches as often as this guy. Whilst he scored a lot of runs in this series, his plays and misses could have converted to nicks quite easily, and he would have been lucky to amass 100 runs for the series. I don't think he has the style that would suit at the top of the order. As for the Aussies, well I think Khajjawa would be well placed for Bangladesh, lets give him a run. He has recently played well in India, and was in sublime form before he did his knee.
Ed Lamb
Guest
Warner, Cowan, Khawaja, Smith for Aus. Cook, Hales, Bell (although Ali could in UAE). I wonder if they'll also consider Borthwick moving up from his usual 3 for Durham in UAE. I can't see any of the possible options being successful in SA but Hales or Lyth are the best England have, assuming there's no return to previous openers (I'm still gutted they discarded Carberry so quickly, he could have been Cook's partner for 3 or 4 years after the 2013/14 Ashes if treated differently).
Brian
Guest
Seeing England from afar the team for the UAE should be Cook Ballance Bell Root Bairstow Stokes Buttler Ali Rashid Broad Finn Hales could also be an option with maybe Ballance in the middle order instead of Bairstow. They definitely need an aggressive opener because the new ball is the best time to score and you can't stagnate with Cook and another defensive opener.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
oops make that "the Aussie Summer" and "It must be" was a mistake, not me trying to be Yoda
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Alex, I don't reckon mighty Moey looks opener material. I like his style though, he should have batted ahead of "Two Ts" Buttler, Stokes and Bairstow as he has that essential combativeness and smarts. Your lot should have stuck with Compton or Carbs or Robbo......the end result was Lyth. Australia's predicament is more around the number 3 pozzie and the poor treatment of good young upper order players since 2009. I can't be bothered rehashing the numbnutted selections under Arthur and then compounded post Ashes 2013. Anyway it should be Warner Khawaja Burns for Bangers and the Aussie to give them a decent shot It must be