Australia’s plan to look at promoting a batter up the order to replace David Warner is looking shaky with nobody keen to make the move.
Usman Khawaja said Marnus Labuschagne was dead against it, Travis Head has been reassured that he won’t be shifted to opener again and Mitchell Marsh does not want the gig even though captain Pat Cummins floated his name as a possibility.
Marsh joked on The Unplayable podcast that if coach Andrew McDonald “is OK for me to try and get 150 before lunch on day one, I’ll put my hand up”.
“There’s obviously been a little bit of chat about it and that’s all well and good. But I just got back into the team.
“I am thoroughly enjoying my role at No.6 and that’s really all I’ll focus on. I’m happy for people to talk about it, but I don’t like being a part of the conversation because ultimately my job is to bat No.6 (against Pakistan in Perth), and that’s what I’m looking forward to.”
Head has spoken to the Aussie brains trust to make sure he won’t be thrust into the role on a permanent basis after filling in when Warner went home with a broken arm during the tour to India earlier this year.
“The conversations I’ve had are that it won’t happen,” he said.
“I won’t be in that spot, they’re happy with me in the middle order. I think it is a specialist job, and the guys who have been waiting to get in the team for a while deserve first crack at it.
“But the conversations are ongoing with everyone. The only one with me is the conversation around the sub-continent, but when you’ve got someone who’s locked in and doing well you also don’t want to change that.
“So I don’t see myself moving around too much in the future.”
Labuschagne has never opened at Test level after starting out in the role with Queensland nearly a decade ago before shifting down the order to eventually become a mainstay of the national team.
Marsh is determined to cement the all-rounder’s role as his own after getting the nod ahead of Cameron Green following his career resurgence at the Ashes.
He was also a key part of the World Cup win in India and after partying hard following the final victory over the host nation, Marsh joked that he pushed the envelope with his celebrations before McDonald told him to get back in the nets to prepare for the Pakistan series.
“I basically carried on the celebrations myself at Rottnest,” he said. “I had the medal around my neck for the whole day, which I kind of thought may have been entering ‘flog territory’.
“If it wasn’t a World Cup, then probably but everyone seemed to get around it. We had other people driving past on boats, yelling out. I certainly felt the love. I was swimming with it on.
“There’s a bit of Pete Murray about it (the medal). It’s seen better days, but it’s all part of the story.”
jamesb
Roar Guru
And if a middle order batsman fails at opening, should that player be dropped?
Prez
Roar Rookie
Head has only cemented his place in the last 12 months. Be crazy to move him now.
Little Billy Bagwell
Roar Rookie
Wow, it is so obvious that it should be Bancroft or Renshaw. Putting Marsh or Green in to open is madness. McDonald is not thinking of the future XI, just keeping his chums happy. Almost makes me want PAK to win the first test.
Ace
Roar Rookie
There's not much to talk about Gordon till the test starts but I noticed the other day an article from Kerry O'keefe who was giving a big rap to an under 19 Australian squad member in Sam Konstas I respect O'keefe's views on cricket. He thought the young bloke was the new number 3 or opener in time. He batted at 3 for NSW recently And a Tasmanian member in Aiden O'connor The under 19 tournament is now in South Africa as Sri Lanka was stripped of holding it. So, I'll be watching results with interest Just my thoughts for today
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Basically, this is the latest start to our Test summer since 1976 because of the stupid T20 series in India. And the protracted WC... Player's positions would be home and hosed. Warner would be asked what kind of open top car he wanted to do his last lap in. Bancroft or Renshaw would be opening last week against Pakistan. And so on..
Smiggle Jiggle
Roar Guru
Where is the leadership saying, this is where you will bat, like it or not? There is a multitude of players wanting the spots, if they are becoming picky, then move them on.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It's going to be a long 24 hours till the Test starts and the journos have something else to pick on
carnivean
Roar Rookie
Presumably because the media keep asking questions that they don't have the ability or permission to answer. Chances are that multiple options are being discussed to gauge whether they're good or not, but no final decision has been made. Exploring all options is generally a good thing. Transparency is generally a good thing. The bad thing is that there's no real other news bigger than this story so we keep getting variations of the same non-answer.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Who would want to be an opening batsman, especially if you’ve already established a place batting down the order. It is such a hard gig, not knowing how the wicket will behave, a new ball swinging around, the bowlers fresh and at their best. You will be pilloried by the press (and Roar commentators) if you get out early, even though the ball was swinging away late towards the slips at 145 kph. No, I can’t see any sane person already ensconced further down the order volunteering for that.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
There was another article yesterday quoting Ed Cown saying all the talk around the Aussie camp was about someone lower in the order replacing Warner. Seems they've had the chat and there are no takers, so why are Cummins and McDonald talking it up as an option?