Australia’s search to find a replacement at the top of the batting order for David Warner is reportedly down to two names, with a final decision to be made on Tuesday night.
That is according to a report fromThe Sydney Morning Herald, which claimed Cameron Green and Steve Smith have emerged as frontrunners to partner Usman Khawaja.
That, in turn, means Cameron Bancroft’s chances of a Test recall appear to be dwindling while the same goes for Marcus Harris, who Warner said recently at the Boxing Day Test would “fit well” at the top of the starting XI.
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“I think Harry has been that person who is going to have that chance … he’s always been that person who was next in line,” Warner told reporters at the time.
“If the selectors show their faith in him, then I’m sure he’ll come out and play the way he does. He’s not too dissimilar to me. If he sees it in his areas, he goes for it and plays his shots.
“I think he would fit well.”
Harris has not played Test cricket for Australia since early 2022 while Bancroft, who has been the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield over the last two seasons, has endured a longer wait.
He has not represented Australia in the Test Arena since an Ashes series against England at Lord’s in 2019.
As for Smith and Green, the former would certainly be the more contentious pick given the debate in the cricket world this week as to whether it would be worth moving him from the No.4 spot.
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Kerry O’Keeffe, for example, said he does not see Smith as “legitimately being a factor” in the battle to replace Warner.
It came after Shane Watson pushed for the move at a cricket event on the eve of the SCG Test, pointing towards it being the challenge that Smith “needs” at this point of his career.
As for Green, he has never opened at first-class level but recalling the 24-year-old as an opener for the series against West Indies could be the perfect opportunity to see how he fares in the new role.
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That goes for anyone though, with former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith also making that argument in support of potentially seeing how Smith goes moving up in the order.
“To be perfectly honest, playing against the West Indies, it is not a bad time to bring someone new in,” he said last week.
“We are not talking about the fiercest bowling attack in the world to get started on.”
Former Australia Test opener Matthew Hayden told The Herald that he believes Matt Renshaw should get the nod as Warner’s replacement and while that appears unlikely at this point, it seems like the Queenslander may be destined for a prominent role in the Test team regardless.
The report also claimed that sources close to the team believe Renshaw is “being primed” to become Usman Khawaja’s permanent replacement when he retires from the Test arena.
