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Who can fill David Warner's spot as Australia's Test opener?

Who do you think can fill David Warner's shoes as a Test opener for Australia?

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FearlessRoar

FearlessRoar

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David Warner's retirement from Test cricket has left Australia with a tough challenge in finding a new Test opener. He's been a solid part of the team for more than ten years, bringing in consistent performances.

There are plenty of options to consider for this crucial position. Usman Khawaja is among them, along with players like Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and even Steve Smith.

At the same time, former openers Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Cameron Bancroft, who've done the job before, now have a shot to make a comeback in the team's lineup.

Who do you think can fill David Warner's shoes as a Test opener for Australia?
 
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke, while speaking on a sports channel talk show, he said:

"If he [Steve Smith] wants to open the batting and they give him the chance, he will be the number one Test opener within 12 months. He is that good a player. If he can bat at 3, he can bat anywhere. Technically he is good enough, he lets the ball go well, and he has great hand-eye coordination. Yes, he might knick the occasional one or might get lbw but tell me something that doesn’t."
 
I feel D’arcy Short can be a good short term replacement but certainly they need a youngster from former U19 winning squad to fill his shoes for the longer span of time.
 
Temproarily Renshaw. Actually selectors were under pressure to drop Warner not so long ago. Australia was already prepared
 
I want Cameron Bancroft to replace him because he hasn't gotten the chance he deserves. Warner and Smith got back into the business, but he is still struggling to get a place.
 
I think Cameron Bancroft seems the best option. Smith is well past his prime and won't be suited for the opener role. In the last few years, he is just averaging in early to mid 40s in middle order itself, this explaining the decline.
 
Best option is Bancroft he's pretty solid in shield cricket and has the numbers to backup
 
FearlessRoar said:
I want Cameron Bancroft to replace him because he hasn't gotten the chance he deserves. Warner and Smith got back into the business, but he is still struggling to get a place.
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Bancroft won't be a welcome name in Australian dressing room after having hinted his fast bowlers tampered with the ball and stuff. And Cummins is their captain.
 
I'd like Cameron Green to be given a chance.
Have seen enough of Harris, Bancroft and Renshaw to know they aren't going to be 40+ averaging openers.
Smith would be a good option as well but who'll they put at no.4 then.
 
I reckon Bancroft is the pick but he bats quite slowly I've heard. Smith opening is an interesting idea I've seen around and that would also open up the #4 spot for Cameron Green
 
I think they should make Head open with Khawaja.

Head is aggressive just like Warner.
 
A fast flowing attacking batsman must be replaced with him

so i think Marsh and Head are the top contenders to fill the gap
 
I don't think Smith has ever opened, it wouldn't be a good move for him to do so, especially since he's going through a slight lean patch right now. Head is going through a worse lean patch in red ball since the WTC final, so it doesn't really make sense to chuck them in against a brand new ball doing bits.

Cameron Green doesn't warrant himself a place in the XI as is, shoehorning him as an opener would not be based on any merit. Mitchell Marsh could work as another aggressive foil to Khawaja's patient style but you'd have to find another middle order bat since again green doesn't come in with any kind of merit.

Harris and Renshaw both have an inferior record to Bancroft in domestics as of late. Bancroft I would say is probably the best choice, no issues with form and no need to re-jig anything. Yes after sandpaper gate there will be controversy about his return but if Smith and Warner can be forgiven why not him.
 
Green and Smith leading race to replace Warner as Hayden reveals his call for next in line

Test opening great Matthew Hayden is adamant Australia should not move Steve Smith to the top of the order against the West Indies and believes Matt Renshaw should be appointed David Warner’s successor when selectors unveil a fresh Test squad on Wednesday.

Hayden was speaking as Cameron Bancroft’s hopes of a Test recall grow increasingly unlikely, with two non-specialist openers – Cameron Green and Smith – emerging as the frontrunners to partner Usman Khawaja following Warner’s farewell at the Sydney Cricket Ground last week.

As of Monday evening, sources close to the Australian team, who requested anonymity in order to speak freely, said a decision on Warner’s replacement and a new squad member would be made by Tuesday night.

Smith revealed after play on Friday at the SCG that he would be interested in opening the batting when Australia’s next Test begins on Wednesday week in Adelaide.

But the wisdom of such a move has been questioned by the likes of former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and Hayden’s long-time opening partner Justin Langer, who believe Smith is better off staying at No.4.

Captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald have also indicated they are not sold on the idea of moving Smith from second drop, where he has proved so valuable in recent years.

Despite those misgivings, the option of Smith opening is being seriously weighed up by selectors, although Hayden said he thought after due consideration they would still rule it out.

“It’s just not going to happen in my opinion,” said Hayden, who averaged 50.73 from 103 Tests as an opener. “He’s commanded so much respect in the game that we should all listen to what he has to say, but I equally think that’s not the way the Australian cricket team management will go. It certainly doesn’t sound like the way Pat will go.

“I just can’t see how strategically that [Smith opening] is going to work for Cricket Australia. They will need someone more concrete than that.

“When you look at the success over the last two years of this Test team, it’s been based on a very solid foundation. It’s been such a key structure – that number one to four set in stone has been gold for Cricket Australia.

“I feel it’s not the story. The story is who is going to be the next Australian opener that they’ll pick.”

According to Hayden, the man best equipped for the job would be Renshaw, especially given his age and ceiling.

Renshaw, who averages 29.31 from 14 Tests, is the youngest of the candidates currently outside the Test team and has received a glowing endorsement from his fellow Queenslander.

“David Warner has had his say in Marcus Harris and Ricky Ponting has had his say on record with [Cameron] Bancroft. I feel like a left-handed opener in Renshaw is that person with age on his side,” Hayden said. “He maybe doesn’t have the performances of Bancroft at first-class cricket but in many ways, I just feel like he has shown what he can potentially do, and he has that longevity.

“With a banker like Khawaja, given the form, maybe it’s time to look to the future and groom that individual. It’s a gut feel more than anything. Bancroft and Harris are a little older, and you could argue a little wiser but Renshaw gives you that youthful edge, and soon you’re going to have two new openers. I’d prefer to have one of them blooded now.

“His last opportunity in India, for goodness sake, it was horrible batting conditions. Had he played in the final Test in Ahmedabad it could have been a different script before the World Test Championship final.

“It could be the golden ticket to get his confidence in Test cricket. No one is necessarily banging the door down.”

If the selectors do include Renshaw in an extended squad, they could still choose either Green or Smith to open in the first Test. However, sources close to the team, speaking anonymously due to the confidential nature of the discussions, said Renshaw was being primed to become Khawaja’s permanent replacement whenever he retires from Test cricket.

Bancroft’s name is being mentioned less the closer the announcement gets. If it is to be a Western Australian, Green seems to be the most likely.

Bancroft is the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, but his lower strike rate may prove a stumbling block for a re-entry to Test cricket for the first time since 2019.

Former Test skipper Michael Clarke, meanwhile, made the bold call on Monday that Smith would be the best opener in the world in 12 months’ time – and could break Brian Lara’s world record for the highest individual score in a Test – if he was moved up the order.

“If he wants to do it, I think they will allow him to do it,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket podcast.

“Listening to Patty Cummins’ quotes, I think it’s a simple swap. I think Cameron Green is going to come in to open the batting for David Warner unless Steve Smith wants to do it. If he does, they might go Steve Smith to open and Cam Green at No.4 or Green to No.6.

“He [Smith] is that good a player. It might be that challenge he’s looking for. If he opens, he will be the best opener within 12 months.

“Don’t be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara’s 400 record because he’s that good and now he’s got the whole day.”
​
SOURCE: SMH
 
Picking Bancroft is a no brainer, he has been the leading run scorer in the past two shield seasons. Renshaw will eventually replace Khawaja in the near future
 
sindhiboy said:
Picking Bancroft is a no brainer, he has been the leading run scorer in the past two shield seasons. Renshaw will eventually replace Khawaja in the near future
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If Bancroft has been the leading run-scorer in the past 2 seasons, how can his inclusion be a no-brainer?
 
Steve smith should be the pick. Aus should try him out of he himself is confident about it.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Smith has passed his prime and with recent performances, it's difficult for him to keep his place in the playing XI now.
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Can help reinvigorate his career with a new challenge. And no other opener is banging the door down. Plus the biggest advantage for aus is that they can automatically slot green into the middle order. That is something they always wanted. The back up 3rd opener can be Bancroft or Harris
 
Smith is also interested in that opening slot. So I guess he will be the first choice now after Bancroft and Renshaw.
 
Told you guys that Smith would be the first choice to open and this is confirmed it seems.

---------------------------------------------

LOCKED IN: Opener saga over as Smith wins race; exiled star back amid big Shield snubs

Australia has announced its squad for the first Test against West Indies in Adelaide next week, with Steve Smith to replace David Warner atop the batting order.

Head of selectors George Bailey confirmed the move during a press conference on Wednesday afternoon hours after a 13-man squad was unveiled.

Smith will shift up the order and partner Usman Khawaja, allowing Cameron Green to take his old spot at four in the batting line-up.

Asked if it was an experiment or if Smith could move back to his old spot at No.4 if he struggles as an opener, Bailey replied: “Tongue in cheek I could say everything’s an experiment. That’s been part of the discussions with Steve, I believe he’s keen for this to be a significant chapter of his career.

“We don’t look too far ahead… (but) for all intents and purposes this is where Steve wants to stay.”

Asked if he expects Smith to play as an opener until the legend retires from Test cricket, Bailey replied: “He may do. It’s not something he’s doing on a whim or he wants to do for one match and see how he goes.”

Bailey added that he believes Smith feels the challenge of opening the batting in Test cricket is an “itch that he’d like to scratch”.

He added: “It’s selfless that someone who has had so much success in one position or a couple of positions in the middle order is open and willing and hungry to have a crack at something new and something different.”

Earlier, Bailey said in a Cricket Australia statement: “Cameron Green will come into the playing XI for the Test in Adelaide in a squad also containing Scott Boland and Matthew Renshaw. We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country.”

Renshaw’s inclusion as the reserve batter means West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris (both 31) were omitted.

Rumours swirled ahead of the announcement that Bancroft’s standing within the team after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal had something to do with his snubbing.

However, Bailey strongly denied those suggestions.

“Categorically no (issue between players and Bancroft). And I’ve shared this with Cameron on a number of occasions,” he said. “It’s never been discussed, from the panel’s perspective, it’s purely a cricketing decision.”

He added: “There’s not a member of the team who would have an issue with Cam playing. We certainly don’t have an issue with it.

“I think a lot of people forget the fact that Cam’s actually played Test cricket since returning from the ban.

“It was a long time ago. We’ve all moved well past that. I’d be disappointed if people were looking to that as a reason… that’s not the case. Never has been and never will be.”

Bancroft has led the Sheffield Shield run-scoring charts over the last two years, which Bailey praised while emphasising that a number of other players - and not just openers - were equally ‘banging down the door’ for selection.

“Cam’s Sheffield Shield record over the last couple of years has obviously been phenomenal. It’s made this decision really challenging, a line ball call.

“Ultimately the decision to get Cam (Green) into the team was around we want our best six batters playing. As it currently stands the panel sees Matt Renshaw as our next best batsman.”

He added: “He is banging down the door. As I said, I think there’s a number of players that are banging down the door and that’s great. It’s not a bad thing that you’re having to make line ball decisions. It’s actually a really good thing.”

Meanwhile, Scott Boland’s place as Australia’s top reserve bowler has been reconfirmed as he retains his place in the 13 ahead of 25-year-old speedster Lance Morris.

Morris was allowed to return to the Perth Scorchers in the BBL ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Pakistan when the extended Australia squad was trimmed to 13, with Boland the reserve bowler in both Melbourne and Sydney.

“Scott Boland and Matt Renshaw will join the squad prior to the first Test after playing for the Melbourne Stars (Jan 15) and Brisbane Heat (Jan 13) in the BBL,” Bailey added in the statement.

But there is good news for Morris, who receives his first-ever call-up to the ODI squad (more below).

CONFIRMED AUSTRALIA TEST SQUAD

Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, Matt Renshaw.

Australia also announced its ODI squad for a three-match series against the West Indies which follows the two-Test battle, with “an eye to the future”.

All four bowlers in the Test XI from the Pakistan series and the upcoming West Indies campaign - captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh - will be rested.

That sees Lance Morris included in his first-ever ODI squad, while the likes of Aaron Hardie, Jhye Richardson and Nathan Ellis are recalled. However, Marcus Stoinis was dumped from the side in a shock omission, while gloveman Alex Carey - who lost his place during Australia’s victorious World Cup campaign - was also left out.

George Bailey said in a statement: “It is a little over 12 months until the Champions Trophy and further opportunities for the likes of Aaron Hardie, Matt Short, Jhye Richardson, and Nathan Ellis will be valuable both to our ongoing improvement as a team and also further their personal experiences in ODI cricket.

“The squad strikes a balance between players continuing to make their mark on international cricket, playing alongside some of our most experienced players with an eye to the future in this format.”

AUSTRALIA ODI SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES SERIES

Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Adam Zampa

SOURCE: FOX SPORTS​
 
Cricket Warrior said:
Smith has passed his prime and with recent performances, it's difficult for him to keep his place in the playing XI now.
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So it's confirmed now that Smith is opening and green is at 4. Once Smith asked to.open - it was almost a given. Cummins and aus couldn't say so. It's like if kohli wants to open - dont think dravid and co can deny that request. Same with Smith. Part of the fab 4 who are close to the the end of their careers now..
 
deltexas said:
So it's confirmed now that Smith is opening and green is at 4. Once Smith asked to.open - it was almost a given. Cummins and aus couldn't say so. It's like if kohli wants to open - dont think dravid and co can deny that request. Same with Smith. Part of the fab 4 who are close to the the end of their careers now..
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Replacing David Warner with Steve Smith as Australia's Test opener is not a good decision because he has never batted in that position in his 16 year First class career.
 
Smith expressing a desire to open is surprising because most players in last stage of their Test career drop down the order , perhaps he thinks he can do it & this might elongate his career . Personally love the thought if he opens & Green replaces Warner as this gives Aussies 2 bowling options besides the 4 main bowlers . Big fan of Test teams having a decent 5th bowling option (y)
 
It's more likely that Smith will open the innings with Usman Khawaja in the series against West Indies.
 
Cricket Warrior said:
It's more likely that Smith will open the innings with Usman Khawaja in the series against West Indies.
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Surprised that they are not considering Head.

Head often opens in ODI. He is aggressive just like Warner. Could've been a suitable replacement for Warner. Head is in good form too.
 
Seems to be a lot of uproar on Aussie social media that Smith has been chosen to open over someone like Bancroft or Harris
 
So, Green is going to bat at 4 and Marsh at 6? Isn't middle order batting a bit light?
 
Smith should have kept his spot at number 3 and let Bancroft open with Khawaja. Bancroft has been piling runs in domestics and should have been given a go. Maybe Smith's poor form forced him to do something different.
 
Nice thinking by Smith to accommodate more batters in the middle if he comes up to open the innings, it will make the batting lineup even stronger.

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It makes sense to have Smith there since he's willing to do it.

Cam Green is too good to be sitting out and has the potential to be a top-class allrounder. He's been excellent at #4 in domestic cricket, bowls well, and is one of the best gully fielders in the world.

I can see why they have gone in this direction instead of Bancroft.
 
kingusama92 said:
It makes sense to have Smith there since he's willing to do it.

Cam Green is too good to be sitting out and has the potential to be a top-class allrounder. He's been excellent at #4 in domestic cricket, bowls well, and is one of the best gully fielders in the world.

I can see why they have gone in this direction instead of Bancroft.
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I still don't understand why they have opted to go with Smith, as he is in terrible form these days. They should have picked a proper opener like Matt Renshaw or Bancroft but it's clear they are just doing this to fit Cameron Green into the 11.
 
The replacement of warner, Smith, is gone early today against West indies in the first innings of the first test match. He scored just 12 runs. Not a good start for Steve smith as an opener.
 
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald opened up on Steven Smith's new batting position in Test cricket and said that it's more about the connection between the two openers. McDonald said that Smith can perform well as an opener once he and Usman Khawaja make the connection. "I suppose it's more just the connection of Usman and Smudge over time," McDonald said when asked about how they are evaluating Smith as an opener as quoted by cricket.com.au. The head coach also praised Smith and said that he is "one of the best problem solvers in the game" for the Aussies.

"We've seen Davey and Usman's connection and then the partnerships that they've been able to produce. That'll be how we judge it - how that partnership functions. They're world-class performers at the top of the order and we think Steve Smith is one of the best problem solvers in the game.

"We've said that leading into this and it makes sense for us that he's (Steve Smith) at the top," he added.

Following David Warner's retirement, Smith has moved to the top of the order leaving the number four spot for Cameron Green in Australia's upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies which will begin on January 17 in Adelaide.

In the first Test match against West Indies, Smith played as an opener and scored 23 runs in both innings.

The second Test match between the Aussies and the Caribbeans will take place on Wednesday at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Source : NDTV
 
Smith has 1 or 2 more years left in his international cricket career. So, I think it's fair to make him an opening batter. If he continues to open innings in Tests for Australia, I'm sure that in these 2 years as an opener, he will score runs like never before.
 
Smith falls in the very first over of the innings in the 2nd Test match against West Indies. His time as an opener is not going in the right direction.

Should he continue to open or anybody else should be given a chance at his spot?
 
Smith has been a dud apart from one innings. It was a pretty shortsighted and strange decision by Australia.

Smith is almost past his best anyway and he doesn’t need to get exposed as opener and ruin his legacy.

It is quite baffling that they don’t want to open with Head who is a like for like replacement for Warner and opens in white ball anyway.

Head
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Green
Marsh
Carey

No one can argue that this top 7 doesn’t look better than the current one.
 
Andrew McDonald says it would be premature to judge Steve Smith's effectiveness as a Test opener after just four matches

As Australia's men's Test team embarks on an eight-month hiatus before their next playing commitment, coach Andrew McDonald has defended newly installed opener Steve Smith against criticism he labelled as "unfair".

Smith's return of 51 runs from four innings (average 12.75) in the two-Test Qantas Tour of New Zealand – his first overseas campaign since replacing David Warner at the top of the order – was one of the few points of concern to emerge from Australia's 2-0 victory.

The former skipper was also dismissed for 11 and 4 in his two outings as opener in the T20I series that preceded the Tests, which has led some to question whether Smith's desire to reinvigorate his already prolific career by tackling the new ball has produced an inverse result.

But McDonald claimed the four Test matches Smith has played in his new guise, in which he's averaged 28.5 with a highest score of 91no, represented "a rather small sample size" and not sufficient to make a definitive judgement on the move's success or otherwise.

He also noted that despite the next Test engagement coming in the 2024-25 summer when India return to defend the Border-Gavaskar Trophy they have retained on their past two visits to Australia, it was difficult to envisage any significant change to the current playing line-up.

"That's not to say there won't be changes, but at the moment we've won two-nil here, and had a 12 Test run where we won eight with (four) of those being away (in England and NZ)," McDonald said in Christchurch today.

"It's going to be a hard group to infiltrate, it will take something special I think.

"No doubt everyone is still asking the question around Steve Smith.

"He is a great player and his ability to problem solve is one of his great strengths.

"He's been challenged in these conditions.

"The surfaces have been new-ball wickets, and no doubt there will be a debate as to what his best position is.

"But he's up for the challenge, and I think any time that Steve Smith fails he sees it as a greater challenge.

"So walking away here with 51 runs under his belt in tough conditions, that will no doubt drive him for the next challenge and that next challenge is India.

"They await, and I think it will be an internal motivator for him.

"He wants to open, it's a position that he came to us around and we think he can make it work."

McDonald remains committed to the rationale of the national selection panel – of which he is a member – to have the country's top six batters plus keeper Alex Carey (player of the match in yesterday's thrilling win) in the starting XI.

As such, the most practical outcome was to have Smith elevated to opener thereby allowing Cameron Green to slot into his preferred batting berth at number four (Smith's former role) which also enables fellow allrounder and reigning Allan Border Medallist Mitchell Marsh to remain at six.

Other elements of the reshuffle were vindicated in NZ where Green almost single-handedly carried Australia to victory in the first Test at Wellington with an unbeaten 174, while Marsh's 80 yesterday in a 140-run partnership with Carey was pivotal in his team's successful pursuit of 279.

McDonald indicated the successful handling of Green, who missed the T20I series in NZ to prepare for the Tests by playing a Marsh Sheffield Shield game for Western Australia (in which he scored a hundred), might prompt a similar approach for Smith heading into next summer's India campaign.

While he stopped short of suggesting Smith was likely to rested from the ODI series against Pakistan that will immediately precede those India Tests in order to hone his red-ball game for New South Wales, it remains a possibility.

McDonald said it would be premature to judge Smith's effectiveness as a Test opener on just four matches, and went into bat for the 34-year-old against claims the move had failed.

"I think it's unfair, and that will probably mean I'm going into defensive mode around my player," McDonald said.

"I don't think it's deserved.

"He'll be able to work through that, it's a new challenge for him, it's a new position.

"And if you're bringing in a new opener and you gave them four Test matches, and then said 'okay; we're going to shift that after four Test matches' would you think that's fair or unfair?

"I think that's reasonably unfair."

www.cricket.com.au

Coach defends Smith against ‘unfair’ criticism of opening move | cricket.com.au

Andrew McDonald says it would be premature to judge Steve Smith's effectiveness as a Test opener…
www.cricket.com.au www.cricket.com.au
 
Coach will accept the fact as well very soon that smith is just not fit enough for this role. Try a youngster instead who is waiting for his chance. Smith has declined and will be a dead-weight for the team soon.
 
Former Australia skipper Tim Paine opined that any opposition team will have no problem if Smith decides to continue as an opener, as he has failed massively so far. Paine told while speaking to a sports channel:

“I look at it, that if I was playing against Australia, where would I prefer Steve Smith to bat? If I'm the opposition, I want him opening the batting. I want my best bowlers at their freshest with a brand new ball. I was in that Ashes in 2019 and went to England with him in another one and when he was at his best batting at four you just felt he couldn't get out."

"I would love to see him succeed as an opener, I think he can, there's no doubt about that, he's good enough to bat anywhere, but as an opposition player I want him at the top of the order because that gives me the best chance of getting him out.”
 

‘Unbelievable’ bolter Aussies snubbed as Bancroft weighs in on opener issue​


Cameron Bancroft says it took time to “digest” being overlooked from Australia’s Test squad last month as he also put his state opening partner forward for national selection amid debate over Steve Smith’s position after his struggles in New Zealand.

In the wake of being overlooked for Test recall, and preparing for another Sheffield Shield final with WA, Bancroft conceded he found the second half of the season “challenging” but was focusing on the “consolations” to come out of missing out on David Warner’s opening spot to a repurposed Smith.

He also said his state captain, Sam Whiteman should be in future conversations for national selection, having made 658 runs including two centuries at 38.70 this season, after playing a key role in the last two Shield titles with more than 600 runs in both campaigns.

Whiteman’s numbers don’t stack up to Bancroft’s 778 runs at 48.62 this summer, but the 10-Test opener said his partner was deserving of a closer look from Australian selectors.

“Yeah, I am a little bit sometimes,” Bancroft said when asked if he was surprised when Whiteman did not figure in conversations about replacing Warner.

“I think his game is in unbelievable order and how he’s reinvented himself as an opening batter – he probably played 50 first-class games as a keeper-batter.

“His ability at the top of the order is underrated, and he’s an excellent leader. He’s a guy at the top of his game, and should definitely be in the conversation for those opportunities, I think he’s playing well enough for sure.”

Bancroft said he had enjoyed playing on more bowler-friendly pitches in recent weeks as he overcame three consecutive failures to post an important half-century as the Warriors sealed another home final with a win over Victoria.

“Naturally as a top order player you’re going to get out sometimes, but it’s also been nice to fight through some tough periods and have a bit of success as well,” he said.

“Naturally I was obviously very disappointed when that time (missing the Test squad) came – I would’ve loved to be in that environment.

“But there were some consolations to come out of it, and I’ve just tried to stay with those and go about my business.

“Sometimes as players in sport it’s just about moving on to the next thing always, but on this occasion I sort of felt like I actually needed to allow myself to be a little bit disappointed, and that was actually OK.”

Bancroft had high praise for teammate Corey Rocchiccioli, who put together the best Shield season by a finger spinner for more than 40 years with his 39 wickets at 29.92.

The 26-year-old has played every game on the way to the final after overtaking Ashton Agar in the longer format, and is challenging the notion Victoria’s Todd Murphy is the natural Test successor to Nathan Lyon.

“He’s definitely told us about (the record), he’s absolutely all over it! It’s that belief and that confidence he has in himself that’s allowed him to do what he’s done this year,” Bancroft said.

“He’s a good learner – you don’t hear too many spinners say ‘I can’t wait to come back and bowl spin at the WACA’, and he’s really embraced that over his journey as a professional cricketer.

“He can take wickets, he’s held up an end really well and allowed our quicks to rotate from the other end … (his season) is a credit to the hard work that he’s put in.”

www.foxsports.com.au

‘Unbelievable’ bolter Aussies snubbed as Bancroft weighs in on opener issue

‘Unbelievable’ bolter Aussies snubbed as Bancroft weighs in on opener issue
www.foxsports.com.au www.foxsports.com.au
 
Warner and Smith have been given chances, what personal conflicts does ACB have with Bancroft?
 

Marnus adds intrigue to Aussie opener debate with dazzling county cricket century​


Probably the most popular Aussie in Wales, Marnus Labuschagne rarely lets down the fans at his Glamorgan “second home”.

The Test batting maestro was at it again on his return to the county championship at Cardiff on Sunday, spearheading their fightback with a ninth first-class century for his beloved adopted team.

“It’s always exciting to be back here in Cardiff at Sophia Gardens. It’s sort of my second home now,” the 29-year-old had gushed earlier in the week after returning to the venue in the Welsh capital where he’s scored a stack of runs.

He had missed out in the first innings of their clash against Middlesex, getting caught behind for a swift 23 but he doesn’t fail twice very often and looked determined to make amends second time around with his side 160 behind on first innings.

Opening the batting again, Labuschagne partnered the prolific South African Colin Ingram in a fourth-wicket partnership of 156 that’s helped the hosts make a fight of it.

Both men went on to make a hundred – it was Ingram’s fourth of the season – with Labuschagne compiling his 111 off 200 balls, featuring 17 boundaries.

Ingram made a more attacking 105 but both will have been frustrated to get out just when it seemed Glamorgan could seize the initiative. The hosts were left at 7-294 – a lead of 134 – by stumps.

For Labuschagne, though, it was a familiar example of his mastery of county attacks. In his 27th championship game, he’s now scored 2355 runs at an average of 56.07. No wonder they love him, as much as he loves his county.

Champions Surrey love their Aussies too, with stalwart Dan Worrall, who now has UK and Australian passports after has successful stint in the English game, once again endearing himself to The Oval diehards with a masterful display of seam bowling that powered them to a 281-run, three-day demolition of Worcestershire.

Worrall was brilliant with his 10-for, taking 4-35 in their second innings to add to his 6-22 in the first, and the evergreen 32-year-old has boosted Surrey’s quest for a hat-trick of titles as they bowled out Worcestershire for 231.

It is Surrey’s fourth straight victory and, having begun the game already 21 points clear, their 19-point haul looks set to only stretch their lead.

Surrey’s other Australian Sean Abbott also chipped in with a typically useful contribution, hitting a brisk 38 near the end of Surrey’s second-innings 427 before taking 1-39 amid Worcestershire’s capitulation.

After Lancashire’s Nathan Lyon had won their ‘Ashes reunion’ duel on Saturday, dismissing Durham’s Ben Stokes for just two, the England captain roared back in familiar fashion on Sunday, taking his first five-wicket haul since July 2018.

Durham, though, still face a battle to avoid a last-day defeat as Lancashire captain Keaton Jennings, the former England opener, haunted his old team with his second century of the match, adding 155 to his first-innings 115.

Stokes’s 5-98 from 20 overs meant his match figures were 38-2-169-7, very encouraging for his plans to return to full allround duties for England.

After Lancashire had declared on 9-353, leaving a target of 475, Durham went to 3-134, with Lyon following up his four-wicket haul in the first innings with another scalp.

All eyes will be on the next instalment of his battle with Stokes, who’s bound to try to hit Durham to glory on Monday’s final day.

www.theroar.com.au

Marnus adds intrigue to Aussie opener debate with dazzling county cricket century

Probably the most popular Aussie in Wales, Marnus Labuschagne rarely lets down the fans at his Glamorgan "second home". The Test batting maestro was…
www.theroar.com.au
 
We often talk about batting failures, keeper debate, fast bowlers, captaincy, etc.

But I feel a major reason for pakistand downfall from prior recent decades in both red ball and white ball has been lack of quality spin bowling combined with lack of ability to play quality spin. Maybe two are even linked as you don't get to face high quality spin in domestics and even at national team level in nets etc.

We have had a legacy of quality spin bowlers who could take down lower ranked teams any day as well as most SENA teams on home conditions.

Without going too far back you can recall the likes of Qadir, Mushtaq, Saqlain, Kaneria, Ajmal, Afridi, Yasir Shah, etc. Even in white ball you could even add Hafeez to that list.

That Era we also had several players who could play spin well.

Since then we haven't had any really good spinners come through and similarly even our top most batters like Babar Azam struggle against quality spin.

Compared to that most major sides have at least one top quality spinner if not more. The likes of Rashid Khan, Adil Rashid, Zampa, Maharaj, Shamsi, Yadav, etc.

That likely also benefits their own batters a bit who have become much better at sweeping, reverse sweeping, reading leg spin, etc.

So overall, this I feel is a significant differentiator between Pakistan and other top sides.

I know people may say we have Abrar, but he hasn't had same impact as others yet. This perhaps could have been a tournament for him to shine but our management didn't even let him play in dead final game. Ideally, they should have minimally played him against USA as it's usually harder for associate teams to play quality leg spin and read mystery spin.

Hopefully, we will learn and do something serious about this as it could be a crucial factor for champions trophy 2025.
 
Australian opener Usman Khawaja has cast some doubt over Steve Smith being his partner at the top of the order for this summer’s blockbuster series against India, he said at an event in Melbourne:

“I got along with Steve Smith really well. I’m good mates with him, I’ve known him since we were 14 years old. I’ve always enjoyed batting with Steve Smith.”

“Whether or not it’s the best combination for the team, I’m not really sure. It will be an interesting question."

“There’s still a lot of time between now, a T20 World Cup to win. There’s like four or five months before the first Test match."

“It would be silly not to have the conversation about what our best six looks like and what order. I’m not involved in those conversations. I have my opinion, but whatever happens it will be the best for the team, which has always been the case.”
 
FearlessRoar said:
David Warner's retirement from Test cricket has left Australia with a tough challenge in finding a new Test opener. He's been a solid part of the team for more than ten years, bringing in consistent performances.

There are plenty of options to consider for this crucial position. Usman Khawaja is among them, along with players like Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, and even Steve Smith.

At the same time, former openers Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Cameron Bancroft, who've done the job before, now have a shot to make a comeback in the team's lineup.

Who do you think can fill David Warner's shoes as a Test opener for Australia?
Click to expand...
Travis head as explosive as David Warner is, so best choice to go with.
 
What's the likely XI India would face in 1st test in AUS later this year? Persist with Smith at the top?

Khawaja
Smith
Marnus
Head
Marsh
Green
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

I feel they'd swap Head with Smith at the top. Rest same.
 
AMSS said:
What's the likely XI India would face in 1st test in AUS later this year? Persist with Smith at the top?

Khawaja
Smith
Marnus
Head
Marsh
Green
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

I feel they'd swap Head with Smith at the top. Rest same.
Click to expand...
Yeah, head gonna replace smith as an opener.

Smith 2 down.
 
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