The identity of Australia’s next Test opener remains a mystery after chief selector George Bailey all but assured that Steve Smith would open the batting next summer.
Following David Warner’s Test retirement earlier this year, Smith was elevated to the top of the order to accommodate all-rounder Cameron Green in the middle order. However, the New South Welshman failed to silence his doubters after averaging 12.75 during the recent Test tour of New Zealand, including twin LBW dismissals in Christchurch.
On Thursday morning, Cricket Australia announced its men’s contract list for the 2024/25 season, with Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft each missing out. Harris, who was offered a national contract last season, served as Australia’s reserve opener during the 2023 Ashes series while Renshaw accompanied the Test squad to New Zealand in February.
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Speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon, Bailey conceded it was unlikely that Australia’s top six would change ahead of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign against India, which gets underway in November.
“Given the performances of the team over a period of time, the onus is on those outside to make a really compelling case of why someone should be displaced, and I do think the guys we’ve got there are in the team for a reason,” Bailey said.
“I don’t think there’s a big enough sample size to be running a line through Steven at the top of the order. We’ve seen some stuff there that we really like, and I think the whole purpose of that was working out how we could work that top six to function as well as it can.
“There’s some improvement to come there, and I think India will be a huge challenge across the summer.
“That top seven, they’re all very good players, they’ve all had great performances at different times across a long period of time, so we continue to back them and expect them to perform.”
Bailey suggested the spare batting position was up for grabs, challenging the likes of Renshaw, Harris and Bancroft to seize their chances during the start of next summer’s Sheffield Shield and the potential India A series.
“It’s open for anyone to jump up and grab the opportunity,” Bailey said.
“We were really clear with Matt and the other guys who missed out as well that it was a really close decision to take him on that New Zealand tour.
“It’s going to be a huge start to the summer. India are coming out, and they’re going to send out an A team as well, so there’s going to be a couple of really strong A games to start the year. I’ve been clear with a number of players that there’s going to be great opportunities come the start of the year.
“A blank page is a good way is a good way of describing it.”
Bailey also mentioned West Australian all-rounder Hardie, wicketkeeper Inglis, South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney and Tasmania’s Beau Webster as possible candidates to make their Test debut in the near future.
However, when asked about who would replace Usman Khawaja when the veteran opener decides to hang up the boots, Bailey stressed that a specialist top-order batter would be the most likely option.
Meanwhile, Bailey hinted that Travis Head could open the batting during next year’s Test tour of Sri Lanka in a horses-for-courses selection call. The South Australian struggled during the 2022 tour of Sri Lanka, averaging 7.66 across two low-scoring matches, but proved an effective opener in subcontinent conditions during last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign in India.
“We’ve shown in the past that we have other options in terms of throwing guys up in subcontinent conditions if we think that suits,” Bailey explained.
Meanwhile, Bailey clarified that Glenn Maxwell wouldn’t need Sheffield Shield matches under his belt to be considered for a Test recall for the Sri Lanka tour, citing the vastly different conditions.
Maxwell was on the verge of a long-awaited Test recall during Australia’s previous Sri Lanka tour, while the Victorian might have featured in last year’s India series if not for injury.
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