No part of Australia’s Test XI has been more unsettled than the openers over the last 12 months, and with the Sheffield Shield season kicking off today, both positions are up for grabs.
Selector Trevor Hohns insisted on Tuesday that the “slate is wiped clean” after a poor Ashes campaign from David Warner, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft. But his insistence of “two or three” batting vacancies was indicative of the uncertainty surrounding the positions.
While captain Tim Paine recently insisted Warner had “enough credits in the bank” for selection against Pakistan on 21 November, Hohns’ comments would suggest that numbers one, two and possibly five were open season in the initial Shield rounds.
“There’s plenty of openers around the country,” Hohns said. “It’s up to them to perform.”
It would appear almost certain that Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Matthew Wade will retain their spots at three, four and six respectively.
Irrespective of the conflicting comments, the bar for Warner to succeed in the early rounds of the domestic season is likely the lowest in the bat-off that includes Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and even Usman Khawaja.
That is, only repeated failures are likely to see his position truly under question. A moderate return to form would suffice for selectors, such is Warner’s seniority in an otherwise inexperienced batting line-up.
Each of the other five contenders have opened for Australia before: Burns on 24 occasions, Renshaw 19, Bancroft 18, Harris 17 and Khawaja seven.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
The spread of numbers is indicative of the unsettled nature of the openers’ spots in recent times. Add to that mix Aaron Finch (and a one-off cameo by Shaun Marsh in the UAE) and it’s the most turbulent period for some time.
Reflexively some might say it has been an uncertain position since Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden departed, but across the last ten years, the opening pairings of Chris Rogers and David Warner, Simon Katich and Shane Watson and Ed Cowan and Warner have each combined for over 1000 Test runs.
You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone, I suppose.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the opening Shield rounds is that, aside from Warner, it would appear the selectors have thrown a blanket over the next-best contenders.
Harris and Bancroft both struggled in the UK and have failed to quell questions around technique and ability to spend long periods at the crease. The Victorian opener started his career brightly against a tough Indian attack last summer but has laboured since. And while Bancroft remains a player Langer seems desperate to succeed, he too has failed to grab his chance.
(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
A strong start to the Shield season, however, could see things turn around quickly for the pair.
Renshaw is the least likely of the contenders to be in the Australia XI for the Gabba Test and may need the most runs to convince the selectors he is ready for a Test recall following a mixed run of form in the last 12 months.
Undoubtedly a player of promise and one with tremendous potential, his recent form hasn’t suggested he can succeed – at present – on the international stage. He’ll be back, but probably not this year.
Burns is the only opener whose stocks have risen this year. The Queenslander plundered 180 against Sri Lanka earlier in 2019 and was desperately unlucky not to be in the Ashes squad. Having overcome a health issue earlier this year and with four centuries in 16 Tests to boot, a bright start to the domestic season should see him back in the Australian XI.
Finally, Khawaja’s predicament is an interesting one. A disappointing Ashes series saw him usurped as Australia’s preferred number three. In Labuschagne, Australia now have a potential long-term first drop, and he will be given the five Tests this summer to bed down the position, barring disaster.
As such, Khawaja could slot into number five – which is unlikely – or as an opener. Certainly the selectors haven’t closed that door.
“He could – we’ve seen him open before for Australia,” Hohns said on Tuesday. “He’s had a fair amount of success there as well. I think his preferred position is three but we know he can do the job in the opening role if we need him to.”
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Should have actually moved the VIC SA game to SA early on in the season with test cricket coming up. Surely they knew St Kilda is a poor pitch
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think Warner and Burns marginally leading off that tricky wicket in Brisbane despite failing in one innings badly each too. Warner still moving back and forward in the crease after England apparently. More leeway for it in Australia. Fact is that game was also at the gabba and Burns faced some pretty good bowling. Not sure about the queensland bowlers so much
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I did hear Pattinson bowled offies ! Says a lot. Interestingly Head made 50 on it compared to the centuries from Pucowski and Carey though. A small concern. Agreed on the other pitch being harder in WA for sure. I think there is still a lack of clarity on the 5 and 6 spots though. Interesting to watch the next two matches actually now. Not that the selectors see it the same way but I see 1, 2 , 5 and 6 slots as uncertain and up for grabs. Reserving judgement until end of round 3 of shield matches. We do need to see all the guys who played in st kilda play interstate. Why on earth couldn’t they use a drop in pitch at the MCG? What a joke.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
It was worse than a road Pierro. It was a joke. Not only the state of the pitch but the approach of Victoria towards the end of South Australia's innings. Handscomb bowled himself and Harris for extended periods and James Pattinson was bowling offspin! Victoria were trying to gift South Australia runs to entice a result. Carey rightly belted a century on that pitch, as did 5 others (including two doubles). 12 wickets for 1,300+ runs; appalling cricket. At least for all those batsmen they'll be able to point to the record books when the context of the match has been long forgotten. Can't compare Carey's match to the WA-Tas game which was played on a green deck with significant swing. Paine's century was superb and IMO probably the best (or as good as) any of the big scores made across the weekend. It would have been a Tasmania victory on Day 4 but for WA's last wicket partnership.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Loving it Jeff. So it was a road for Vic vs SA but Carey makes 117, Head makes 50. Wade admittedly in trickier conditions only makes 40. Oh the doubters of Carey and red ball conversion
Granted, but it's just papering over the cracks if they pick Harris after one hundred. He's probably another Khawaja, comes home racks up huge runs in the shield and does well in the home tests then flops overseas, we cant afford to invest another 30 tests in players like this. Not when you have guys like Burns, and Renshaw if he ever finds his mojo again waiting in the wings. Invest in players that will pay you back in short time, not just show you flashes of brilliance then disappoint most of the time.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
I know what you're getting at, but while the selectors are looking at shield performers from this early, Harris is one of the performers due to his ton. After his horror Ashes, the selectors will consider how he's bounced back, the same as Warner has. The expectation on all players who were considered good enough, but struggled in England, was to come home and rebuild their standing. The fact that Harris and Warner weren't dropped actually works in their favour as their initial rebuild has been successful so far. It can be frustrating, because Aussie selection has traditionally been like that and some players get far more benefit than others, but if you look the number of players who've played for Australia versus England, I prefer our overall Test record to theirs.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
It's on par to most of those but what i am trying to say is it is no guide to picking the best players we have because they score big runs against very ordinary bowling in Sheffield Shield then when they get picked for Australia they fail badly against better bowling .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
No, it was rated "below avarage" (and below that is "poor"then "ünfit"', these two ratings attract sanctions). But it was the lowest of the three "pass"marks. I think it was just too inconsistent in it's bounce for the referee.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes Pierro, Perth is a D/N match against the kiwis.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yes, ironic. Did they deem it unsafe or something?
No I won't be surprised, our selectors have proven over the years they don't care about logic, they just pick on who has a nice cover drive. I'm not against Harris being picked in the future through weight of runs. It's just if someone had such a bad 4-5 tests such as he's had, then I don't think you can justify his place when others are making runs
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
He's an incumbent too, who just made a ton, so don't be surprised, even if he isn't your preferred option.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
As did I. The ICC match referee graded it low though. It was anything but flat or the proverbial "road".
Micko
Roar Rookie
That's harsh, I considered the Perth Stadium pitch provided a good balance.
Indeed after this hundred he's most definitely a lock for the first two tests, but I dare say Warner has absolutely no credits in the bank so if doesn't perform in the Pakistan series then he's in huge trouble, but we'll wait and see. And for the love of god, if Marcus Harris plays the first test.....
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
G’day Ben, I didn’t say Warner should open, just that he will. Mind you Maddinson and Harris have put the pressure on. That’s what a competitive Aussie side needs, Shield form to pressure incumbents, especially incumbents with credits in the bank. If a couple of openers back up with a coupla tons to start the season, then the selectors have a positive discussion. Of course that’s not to say if two openers have a blinder, then they can bat Warner at 5 to restore his form, despite him never having batted there for Australia. Mind you as I write Warner is 90no from a total 143 in the Shield v Qld, so all this may be moot.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes. I meant NZ didn't even have that many sheep :thumbup:
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Not that many sheep, cows or reindeer, but latest population estimate is 217 million.
Paul
Roar Guru
Totally agree U, but the selectors think differently to you and I. He'll now doubt score a gazillion runs on the roads they're producing in Victoria at present, other contenders will struggle on much harder tracks, the press will demand his selection and the powers that be will cave.