Should David Warner’s groin strain keep him out of the Adelaide Test and even beyond, India could again exploit Australia’s opening pair just as they did two summers ago.
Warner’s injury, believed to be a relatively serious groin strain, leaves him under significant doubt to take to the field in 16 days’ time.
Should he fail to recover, the uncapped Will Pucovski would likely partner incumbent opener Joe Burns under lights on December 17.
It would also relegate an upcoming tour game to a mere dress rehearsal, rather than the ‘bat-off’ it had been billed as.
The pairing, should it eventuate, would be the only discernible area of weakness in an otherwise strong Australian XI.
Burns’ recent troubles at Shield level are well known, and while Pucovski has shown huge promise, the prospect of facing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami on international debut is a significant step up from Cameron Gannon and Daniel Worrall on batter-friendly Adelaide tracks.
It would be an opportunity he thoroughly deserves, mind, and one he may take with both hands.
But the possibility of early failures is very real.
The predicament is clearly not what the Australian selectors had envisaged, and leaves Justin Langer’s side in a not too dissimilar position to when India toured these shores two years ago.
Then, Test newcomer Marcus Harris partnered Aaron Finch in a combination that left Australia in a precarious spot on several occasions.
David Warner. (Photo by Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images)
In defeats at Adelaide and Melbourne, the pair failed to put on more than 28 runs in all four innings.
Those two victories sealed a historic series win for Virat Kohli’s men — their first ever in Australia.
The biggest difference this time around though, is that Australia’s ability to cover a potentially shaky top order is far stronger.
With Steve Smith back in the fold and Marnus Labuschagne’s meteoric emergence, Australia’s first and second-drop leaves the side in safer hands.
Both proved on numerous occasions in last year’s Ashes series the ability to steady the ship after a rocky start.
The pair have the chance to be what Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli were to India in that 2018/19 summer.
Similarly to the Aussies in that series, India’s opening pair struggled, and the selectors spectacularly dropped both KL Rahul and Murali Vijay prior to Boxing Day.
But Pujara and Kohli combined for an incredible 803 runs throughout the series, more than covering for earlier mishaps at the top.
By contrast, Australia’s number three and four combinations that series (a mixture of Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh and Labuschagne) combined for just 388 across the four Tests.
On a more immediate front, the question of who replaces Warner for tomorrow’s final ODI and the three upcoming T20s is an interesting one.
Matthew Wade would appear the frontrunner as a straight-swap in the T20s, having filled in for Warner in the last T20 international Australia played (against England in September).
For tomorrow, though, his Hobart Hurricanes teammates D’Arcy Short is also a chance to get the nod.
Short has played through the middle order in recent ODIs for Australia, so there’s a chance the Aussies could push another player to open and shuffle other positions accordingly.
Unsurprisingly, Labuschagne was quick to put his hand up when speaking to the press on Monday.
“Certainly if I got asked to open the batting absolutely it’s an opportunity that I would enjoy doing. We’ll wait and see how our team shapes up for the next game and see the balance of the side, but yeah I would love doing it,” the perpetually keen Labuschagne said.
There is also a chance all-rounder Marcus Stoinis could play as a specialist batter after suffering a side strain in the first ODI.
razpor
Guest
If they were that good they would be playing staarc is injured for a good while every year yet to see another staarc or shani energe in the meantime ,if and buts dont work. USELESS argument.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Absolutely likely. Remember how long and how often Steve Waugh failed before he found his mojo. These guys who got one or two games (you can add Martin Love) succeeded from the start and never got further chances. Joe Angel had only 4 tests and took 10 wickets. That's very sound. He is WA's most prolific wicket taker and that includes a state that had Lillee, Alderman, Massie, Yardley... Rackemann was the same at QLD. Rackemann was not "injury prone". He played long and healthily. You really reinforce my point. These outstanding bowlers succeeded big time at the level below.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Don Freo, do you seriously think any of those batsmen you named would have done all the things the Waugh’s did? One of many examples, Kingston 1995? The only reason Carl Rackemann didn’t play more for Australia is that he was injury prone. Plus he had to serve a three year ban. And when McDermott broke down in the Caribbean, he was selected to replace him because of his role in Queensland having just won their first shield title – that’s how it works. Joe Angel simply wasn’t good enough at test level.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Aaron Finch has been good at test level before and he's in great form.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I'd consider wp harris . Burns has just been in dreadful form . Warm up matches now important they could do worse than give harris a game there . I'm more prone to give wp a game as openers were all generally exposed in the last ashes in a true test pressure scenario . Last summer at home was very mediocre opposition and nz were decimated
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Matt , Labs could have opened last test in England for sure the way he was going on those pitches. Australian pitches ideally want him first drop . I tend to be concerned about wades succeptbility to new ball as his technique is not great . Watched him close in England where the pace bowlers had him exposed several time early on he was lucky there on ocassions and caught playing accross the line off balance with the stumps . Playing in Australia may cover that up but I'd give wp a go . The ashes certainly exposed many of our openers as ordinary on foreign soil that's for sure
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Bernie with your last comment I'd definitely agree on cummins and hazelwood . Unbelievable averages , around 20 or less in last ashes and key to the drawn series . However lyon and starc are interchangeable for me they absolutely shine at some grounds and can be lethal but other grounds they can get thumped and go wicket less , depends on the nature of the pitch and conditions . Certainly wouldn't be changing any of them in Adelaide where starc and lyon in credible with adelaide dn matches but starc and lyon are questionable on averages and form over the years at scg and mcg (depending on the opposition quality ) . A guy like neser is pretty lethal at the gabba for example as well . Swepson could be the better choice at mcg than lyon . Starc has been thumped a few times for runs and less wickets at scg
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Don your definitely right about burns , wade and paine with question marks around them on huge levels. I’m excited to see WP play and although warner is a lock on Australian soil he isn’t as much of a lock on foreign tours at his age . On comparing shield and tests , in terms of bowlers I’d say there’s a select group that are world class . Guys like cummins and hazelwood averaged around 20 or less in the ashes and we’re simply incredible and above a shield level on foreign soil but there are horses for courses with guys like starc and then i tend to think there’s not much in it with other bowlers at the next shield type level . Starc for example has a poor average at some grounds for sure , I think he’s been poor at scg but can shine in the day night at adelaide . A guy like neser could be lethal on his home pitch at gabba . I agree that many positions are interchangeable but many will argue against us . I think some fluidity over a few spots per smart analysis can really benefit the team. I’m certainly glad WP can potentially get some experience with burns lucky to hold a spot and warner getting a bit longer in the tooth and questionable overseas facing red ball in some countries
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Have you heard of Brad Hodge, Jamie Siddons, Darren Lehmann, Sturt Law, Jamie Cox, Carl Rackemann, Andy Bichel, Joe Angel, Stuart MacGill? As for the contemporary attack, I have named them above.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
South Africa is no longer the side it once was. If you are going to make that comparison, look at the personnel in the South African team now and tell me how many are the same. By the way, WA beat them when they last toured.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
How could our state sides beat south Africa when our national side has lost to them on their last three visits here? As for being a test player just being a matterbof being picked above another shield player, pray tell me who in the 1990s would have done in their stead what the Waugh twins did to take Australia to the top and keep them there? Who could have done what McGrath or Warne did in their stead? Who were RickyvPonting, Michael Clarke or Steve Smith picked instead of who could have done the same? Name me an alternative attacknto Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Lyon?
matth
Roar Guru
That was in a T20 and after that I was a big advocate for sending him in at the top in that format. It's basically no different to sending him in after 30 overs in an ODI. He can just tee off and if he doesn;t come off, never mind.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Looking forward to Bryce opening for Australia in the next few years, will be an exceptional player, you will see. Will that be before or after he opens the batting for Mumbai in the IPL?
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Harris is a chance. His shield form is as good as anyone's and he's a left hander. I'm not sure if it will come into the thinking but we do like our left/right opening combo. I read today that the last pair of right handers was Slater/Blewett way back in 2000. There have been a few lefties since then but apparently no right handed combo.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
There you go. You need to watch more. Our state sides (SA apart) will beat Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, West Indies, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan every time they play them. India and, at times, England would be a bit tougher.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Uneven how?
Tom
“The gap between Test and Shield is miniscule” I’m sorry, but this simply couldn’t be anymore wrong. They are galaxies apart in terms of consistent player ability and intensity.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yeah I agree.
Tom
You'd think if they could remember that far back they'd remember the whole averaging 12 from his last 15 ODI innings thing, or the averaging about 19 from his last 24. A single 50 plus score in his last 2 years of ODI cricket. Even worse than I was expecting.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Yeah it's always a problem when you are picked as a batting allrounder and dont perform with the bat or are picked as a bowling allrounder and dont perform with the ball.