After greater than half a decade of looking, Australia lastly discovered a gap associate for David Warner earlier this 12 months — albeit by chance.
An premature Covid-19 scare for Travis Head opened the door for Usman Khawaja to make his long-awaited return to Test cricket, and the Queenslander has been an absolute marvel in Australian whites ever since.
Watch Australia v South Africa. Every check match reside and ad-break in play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
But all good issues should come to an finish.
Warner and Khawaja are coming into the twilight of their taking part in careers, each aged 36 and nearing retirement. Meanwhile, Warner’s latest type has sparked hypothesis he could not even board the aircraft to India subsequent month.
It’s virtually a certainty Australia will start attempting to find a brand new opening partnership within the subsequent 12 to 24 months — and there are already a number of candidates.
“It’s good to see we’ve got a bit of depth in that area,” former Australian Test batter Michael Hussey advised foxsports.com.au final month.
“David Warner’s made it public that he might only play Test cricket for another 12 months, and obviously Usman Khawaja’s coming into the twilight of his career as well, so who knows how long he’ll want to keep playing for.
“It’s going to be important to have a couple of really good players that have had some Test match experience to fill those two pairs of massive shoes.”
MARCUS HARRIS
Currently a member of the Australian Test squad, Harris is the undisputed subsequent cab off the rank.
The Victorian, who most just lately represented Australia throughout final summer season’s triumphant Ashes marketing campaign, is coming off a profitable 12 months in red-ball cricket.
Harris collected 726 runs at 42.70 in 9 first-class matches for Gloucestershire over the winter, together with three centuries, and the opener’s advantageous type continued after returning dwelling in September, scoring 288 runs in 4 Sheffield Shield matches at 41.14, headlined by a century in opposition to Western Australia in October.
More just lately, he smacked an aesthetic 73 in opposition to the West Indies in the course of the Prime Minister’s XI match at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.
But critics will inevitably level in the direction of Harris’ mediocre Test document and ask whether or not the 30-year-old deserves one other probability. The left-hander has averaged 25.29 with the bat in 14 matches, statistically making him the second-worst Australian opener in Test historical past.
However, numerous Australian batters have dominated the Test enviornment after being axed and refining their craft at home degree — Khawaja, Matthew Hayden and Steve Smith to call a couple of.
MATTHEW RENSHAW
Another left-handed opener with worldwide expertise, Renshaw has been extensively tipped for a return to the Test aspect within the close to future.
The Queenslander made his Test debut in November 2016 as a 20-year-old, scoring a maiden century in opposition to Pakistan on the SCG later that summer season.
But following a disappointing Test tour of Bangladesh in 2017, he was axed in favour of Cameron Bancroft.
Renshaw took a break from cricket in early 2020 after being dropped from Queensland’s Sheffield Shield aspect, however has been one of many Bulls’ most prolific run-scorers since his return.
The 26-year-old is averaging 51.66 within the Sheffield Shield this summer season, scoring an unbeaten double-century in opposition to New South Wales in Sydney.
Renshaw then turned heads throughout final month’s Prime Minister’s XI match in opposition to the West Indies in Canberra, smacking 81 and 101 not out in opposition to the pink Kookaburra.
It’s additionally value noting Renshaw has Test expertise within the subcontinent, scoring two fifties in opposition to India in early 2017.
“I am ready,” Renshaw advised AAP when requested about the potential for a Test re-call earlier this month.
“The last few years I have definitely re-thought about how I go about my cricket.
“The Aussie stuff is important but you can get caught up with your mindset and trying to play for that, rather than just playing for my team and doing well for Queensland.
“That is the big learning I have had, along with enjoying my cricket. If (a Test recall) comes then it comes. It will take care of itself.”
TRAVIS HEAD
Head has been a marvel within the Australian Test aspect this summer season, successful back-to-back Player of the Match accolades for entertaining knocks in Adelaide and Brisbane.
The left-hander at present averages 44.55 within the five-day format, accumulating greater than 2000 Test runs since his debut in 2018.
But regardless of his success at No. 5, Head has emerged as a shock contender to exchange Warner on the high of the order.
News Corp studies that Head may very well be thought-about a like-for-like substitute for Warner if the veteran opener decides to hold up the boots earlier than the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Although this resolution might sound outlandish at first look, Head’s aggressive batting fashion undeniably mirrors that of Warner, whereas the middle-order emptiness would create room for one more all-round possibility — maybe Mitchell Marsh or Glenn Maxwell.
And Head wouldn’t have to look far for inspiration — former nationwide coach Justin Langer and Australian teammate Khawaja each began their Test careers within the center order earlier than flourishing as openers.
But sceptics will pose an apparent retort: Why change a successful method?
“I don’t think Travis Head will open the batting for Australia in red-ball cricket,” former Australian all-rounder Simon O’Donnell advised SEN Breakfast on Tuesday morning.
“He’s found his slot, and he’s fantastic in it.”
The South Australian has additionally been earmarked as Aaron Finch’s substitute within the ODI group, anticipated to open the batting for Australia at subsequent 12 months’s World Cup in India.
CAMERON BANCROFT
Another forgotten Test opener, Bancroft was one of many numerous cricketers Australia trialled on the high of the order alongside David Warner over the previous decade.
It was seemingly a match made in heaven when the duo scored an unbeaten 173-run opening partnership on Bancroft’s Test debut, however the Cape Town ball-tampering saga put each of their careers on pause.
However, the West Australian was rushed again into the Test aspect forward of the 2019 Ashes sequence following a prolific stint within the County Championship, however he was axed in favour of Marcus Harris forward of the Headingley fixture.
More than three years later, Bancroft is as soon as once more in rivalry for a Test recall following a powerful begin to this summer season’s Sheffield Shield, plundering 483 runs in six matches to grow to be the event’s second-leading run-scorer.
The 30-year-old is the one cricketer with three Sheffield Shield centuries this season, whereas no person else within the competitors has confronted greater than 1000 deliveries, highlighting his longevity on the crease.
Fans will inevitably be divided on whether or not Bancroft deserves one other alternative at Test degree, however nationwide selectors would discover it tough to disregard him if he maintains this run of type.
WILL PUCOVSKI
The one-Test marvel who can’t catch a break, Pucovski is liable to turning into the forgotten man of Australian cricket.
Once earmarked as a future nice of the sport, Pucovski’s profession has been suffering from psychological well being and irritating harm setbacks.
The Victorian has suffered practically a dozen concussion scares, certainly one of which delayed his Test debut till January final 12 months, the place he scored a powerful half-century in opposition to India on the SCG.
But a fielding mishap on the ultimate day of the New Year’s Test sidelined the teenager for the sequence decider in Brisbane, opening the door for Marcus Harris’ return.
An plain expertise, Pucovski averages 48.97 at first-class degree with six Sheffield Shield centuries to his identify.
The 24-year-old received his summer season off a blistering begin by cracking an unbeaten 193 in Victoria’s second XI pre-season fixture in opposition to New South Wales in Coffs Harbour, surviving 404 deliveries and 682 minutes on the crease.
But he’s at present taking a break from cricket, stepping away from the game in October for private causes.
Pucovski continues to be in Australia’s future Test plans, becoming a member of an eight-man squad of creating gamers despatched to coach on the MRF Academy in Chennai earlier this 12 months.
Hopefully the celebs align and Pucovski will get one other alternative to show his value in Australian whites.
HENRY HUNT
He might not be a family identify, however Hunt has been turning heads within the Sheffield Shield over the previous 24 months.
The South Australian was the fourth-leading run-scorer within the Sheffield Shield final summer season with 601 runs in eight matches, turning into the one cricketer to muster three centuries within the competitors.
Hunt boasts all of the attributes of an old style opening batter — endurance, self-discipline, method and endurance.
The 25-year-old pushed his Test credentials with a match-saving efficiency in opposition to Victoria in October, surviving 326 deliveries on the crease within the fourth innings to clinch a draw from the jaws of defeat.
But he hasn’t been capable of convert begins into large scores this summer season, at present averaging 31.00 within the Sheffield Shield with two fifties in 10 knocks.
Hunt gained’t be on the aircraft to India subsequent month, however he’s not removed from incomes a coveted saggy inexperienced.
SAM WHITEMAN
Another participant who has been dominating within the Sheffield Shield circuit over the previous 18 months, Whiteman is a smokey to earn a Test debut.
The West Australian opener was the second-leading run-scorer within the Sheffield Shield final season, plundering 641 runs at 58.27 in seven matches.
Whiteman has additionally loved a profitable begin to his 2022/23 marketing campaign, scoring 390 runs at 43.33 in six matches, together with an aesthetic century in opposition to South Australia in Perth final month.
The 30-year-old was chosen for Cricket Australia’s latest tour match in opposition to South Africa in Brisbane, however he struggled in opposition to the formidable Proteas assault, registering scores of 11 and 1.
Whiteman’s glovework is also thought-about a bonus — having a reserve wicketkeeper within the beginning XI is all the time useful in case of harm.
TEAGUE WYLLIE
Remember the identify.
Earlier this summer season, the West Australian teenager turned the Sheffield Shield’s youngest centurion since Ricky Ponting following a breakthrough knock in opposition to New South Wales.
Playing in simply his third first-class match, Wyllie scored 104 on a tough WACA deck to grow to be the primary particular person born after 2003 to attain a Sheffield Shield century, reaching the feat in opposition to a bowling assault that includes 4 Australian representatives.
Speaking to the ICC earlier this 12 months, Wyllie in contrast his batting fashion to that of Indian legend Rahul Dravid, who was famend for his impenetrable defence.
“I‘m a very stodgy kind of opener who just tries to bat the innings,” he defined.
“I wouldn‘t say there’s one particular player that I’ve modelled my game on, but I consider myself to bat a little like Dravid. I like to bat long periods of time and not give my wicket my way.”
Wyllie turned the second youngest cricketer to win a Sheffield Shield last final summer season, behind solely Test captain Pat Cummins, serving to Western Australia break its 23-year title drought.
Speaking to CODE Sports in October, West Australian coach Adam Voges earmarked Wyllie as a younger expertise to keep watch over this summer season.
“He’s quite a big guy, he’s got a physical presence when he’s at the crease,” he stated.
“Technically he’s really solid. He’s been an opening batter pretty much all of his career, so technically he’s sound.”
ASHLEY CHANDRASINGHE
Another batting prodigy who burst into the highlight earlier this summer season, Ashley Chandrasinghe compiled an old style century on Sheffield Shield debut in November, scoring an unbeaten 119 in opposition to Tasmania at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval.
His 311-ball century was the second-slowest Sheffield Shield ton for a Victorian, narrowly behind Shawn Craig’s 316-ball ton in opposition to Tasmania in January 1999.
Chandrasinghe modelled his batting method off trendy greats Michael Hussey and Kumar Sangakkara, and he undeniably boasts their temperament and endurance when on the crease, making only one run from his first 49 balls in opposition to Tasmania.
After he was dumped from the Victorian state pathways in 2019, Chandrasinghe determined to ply his commerce within the Northern Territory; an uncommon alternative contemplating the federal territory doesn’t have a Sheffield Shield aspect.
But he turned heads in the course of the latest winter season by plundering 5 consecutive centuries for Waratah within the Darwin Premier competitors, breaking the all-time document.
“He’s just getting started,” Waratahs coach Udara Weerasinghe advised NT News earlier this 12 months.
“He’s one of those players who knows where their off stump is.
“Champions are made when nobody is watching, that’s my story for him.”
Last month, Chandrasinghe mixed with Will Pucovski for a 270-run opening partnership throughout Victoria’s second XI pre-season fixture in opposition to New South Wales in Coffs Harbour.
“I think he has all the attributes, the personal qualities as well as the talent to go to the highest level,” Waratahs membership president Simon Matthias advised the News Corp publication.
“He’s perfectly suited to four-day cricket, and that’s why I think he’s really got a strong future at first-class level.”
Originally printed as ‘I am ready’: Contenders primed to exchange David Warner and Usman Khawaja in Test aspect
