Who will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy gets underway in Perth on 22 November is one of the most important calls the Australian selectors have to make.
Steve Smith currently partners Khawaja, but given his inconsistent performance and the strength of India’s bowling lineup, it is being felt that it would be more beneficial for Australia to move him back to No.4, where he has established himself as one of the game’s premier stroke makers.
Middle-order player Travis Head has been considered as a potential opener, with first-class cricket officials mentioning this possibility six weeks ago.
Specialist openers like Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw are in contention, while all-rounder Cameron Green is now an unlikely option due to concerns over a back injury that could sideline him for the series.
With these many moving pieces, Test great Ian Healy says Australian selectors should consider an unorthodox move – play Mitchell Marsh as the opener and keep Head in the middle order.
Despite Marsh not having opened the batting in Tests, former Test wicketkeeper Healy has suggested his inclusion.
“Travis seems hesitant to move up the order, which I understand. He poses a greater threat when the ball isn’t swinging as much,” Healy commented to SportsBoom.
“I think there is a reluctance from Travis to go up, which I would agree with. He is a much more scary proposition when the ball isn’t doing as much,” Healy said on SportsBoom.
“He should be able to enjoy middle-order freedom. I feel Cameron Green or Mitch Marsh might have been good options, and we know Marnus [Labuschagne] can do that job, but he is also valuable at No.3. I also like Smith opening the batting, maybe more than he does.”
Australia’s struggles at the top contributed significantly to their failures during their last two Test tours of India. Healy noted, “Now Green has a back injury, the pressure might be off, and Marsh might go out and open, and Smith drops down to four, with Marnus and Head on either side. I am not sure who would bat No.6,” Healy said.
Marsh is technically proficient and has opened in multiple ODIs over the past two years, but his Test average stands at a modest 30.45, with three centuries across 42 matches.
His numbers drop to 18.33 in five Tests against India, with his last outing against them being in 2018 at the MCG. He has expressed a preference for batting in the middle order within Test cricket.
In contrast, Smith holds a career average of 61.5 at No. 4, but has only averaged 28.5 in eight innings since stepping in for the retired David Warner at the top of the order last summer. Legendary Aussie opener Matthew Hayden has remarked it would be “crazy” to keep Smith in that position.
Additionally, Head recently batted in the middle order for South Australia against NSW in Sydney, under the observation of Australia’s selection chairman George Bailey.
