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Usman Khawaja is firming as contender for an international return but Kerry O’Keeffe has picked a bolter to partner David Warner as opener in the Ashes first Test against England.
The former Test spinner says South Australia’s Jake Carder is “an opener for Australia just waiting to be selected”, while adding he would have Mitch Marsh playing in the same top six at the Gabba.
Two places in the top six are thought to be up for contention with Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Cameron Green set for a nod.
With Will Pucovski expected to miss out through concussion, Marcus Harris and Khawaja are the leading candidates to partner Warner with Khawaja leading the Sheffield Shield runs chart with 326 runs at 81.50, including two centuries.
Travis Head is considered a shot in the middle order.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, O’Keeffe said Carder should open with Warner. The 25-year-old has scored 118, 37 and 68 in his three Shield innings as a No. 3 for South Australia as well as 1 and 79 as an opener.
“If I was a selector and the first six in Brisbane, I’d go: David Warner, Jake Carder, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh,” O’Keeffe said.
“I think there’s more upside to Mitch Marsh, at 30, then there might be to Travis Head.
“And Jake Carder is an opener for Australia just waiting to be selected.”
A half-century for Jake Carder ???? #SheffieldShield pic.twitter.com/8xusRrUjTu
— West End Redbacks (@WestEndRedbacks) October 18, 2021
Marsh hasn’t played a first-class game this summer, but is in good form in T20 cricket.
He’s got the backing of former Test keeper Brad Haddin as well.
“It’s similar for me to George Bailey. He came off that red-hot white-ball form leading into the 2013 Ashes where Australia won 5-0 at home and he batted at No. 6,” Haddin told Fox Cricket.
“Mitch Marsh is that gut-feel selection. You can look at the analytics and red-ball games going on, but I just think he’s ripe for the picking at the moment. Come in at six, he’ll move the game forward. If the top order do their job, he could be really proactive batting with the tail. Imagine him at eight, nine and 10.”
O’Keeffe said Marsh would give Australia more as a bowler than Green.
“Last year against India, Cameron Green didn’t get a wicket, so Tim Paine kept having to bring back the specialists. Mitch Marsh got seven wickets in his last Test two years ago – he gets people out in Test cricket,” he said.
Marsh told Fox Cricket he was keen to be involved, despite a lack of first class cricket.
“I certainly have aspirations to keep playing Test match cricket for Australia,” Marsh said.
“In all honesty, I’m probably a few back in the pack now but hopefully some stage I’ll get a go with some red-ball cricket for either WA or I know there’s an Australia A game coming up, so hopefully I’m in that.
“Anytime you play, you’re pressing for selection, so I still have high hopes to play Test match cricket again. But I’m realistic that I’m probably a couple back at this stage and I have to make a few runs.”
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