On who should succeed Warner, however, has split opinions despite this. As one of the decision’s clear stakeholders, Usman Khawaja cautioned that he would not want an established batter to be sacrificed in the name of adjustment.
There has been conjecture in the cricket world over David Warner‘s top-order replacement ever since he said that the home Test series against Pakistan would be his final one. With a fitting send-off, Australia won the Test series 3-0 and the small batter ended his career on a strong note, hitting a half-century in his last Test innings in Sydney.
Just a few months prior, there were just three main candidates vying for the crucial position. The monitoring involved the performances of Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft, who are specialists in opening roles. Recent entries from middle-order experts like Cameron Green and Steve Smith, however, have created new opportunities.
Mitchell Marsh began scoring runs in the No. 6 spot in Australia’s recent matches, forcing young all-rounder Green to stay on the bench. In order to make room for Green in the middle, Marnus Labuschagne, the number-three hitter, may also move to the top. Warner recently said, however, that Smith’s versatility and abilities might make him a good test opener. But if Green starts as the first player, the least amount of disruption would occur.
In an interview with ABC last month, Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald made a suggestion that the country would support an unconventional opener by citing the country’s historical success with makeshift openers in Test matches.
Over the past seven decades, Australian batsmen such as Usman Khawaja and Bob Simpson, who began their careers in the middle of the order, have risen to the top. Out of all eight players, Greg Blewett was the only one who was unable to improve on average after moving up in the batting order.
Nine players—Khawaja, Justin Langer, Shane Watson, Simon Katich, David Boon, Keith Stackpole, and Simpson—all began their Test careers batting in the middle order before rising to the top. As openers, they were all more effective.
“It’s a specialised role in brackets, but anyone who can bat in the top four can open,” cricket.com.au cited Usman Khawajaa as saying.
“To sacrifice someone who, in my opinion, is the second-greatest Test batsman ever, just wouldn’t want to, given how long he’s been batting in that position.” Steve Smith’s attractiveness stems from his skill as a No. 4 batsman. He’s got bat speed against pace. He’s quite adept at countering spin.”
On January 10, the selectors will announce the team for the upcoming two-match home Test series against the West Indies. Fans of cricket may be able to deduce who Khawaja might start with going forward without Warner. Adelaide will host the first Test starting on January 17.
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