{"id":425689,"date":"2024-10-09T08:19:34","date_gmt":"2024-10-09T08:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=425689"},"modified":"2024-10-09T14:08:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-09T14:08:20","slug":"reluctant-star-leaves-key-aussie-role-in-limbo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=425689","title":{"rendered":"'Reluctant' star leaves key Aussie role in limbo"},"content":{"rendered":"

The debate around who will open the batting for Australia<\/a> this summer is in full-swing, with two former Test stars weighing in ahead of the series against India.<\/p>\n

Following the retirement of David Warner<\/a> at the start of this year, Steve Smith<\/a> was given first crack alongside Usman Khawaja<\/a>, delivering mixed results.<\/p>\n

A difficult tour of New Zealand for the 35-year-old has prompted discussions about moving him back to his customary No.4 spot and finding a new partner for Khawaja.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Kangaroos blow as grand final hero to withdraw<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Tennis star apologises after photo causes uproar<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> 'You wish': Cleary's swipe after bold call from Eels greats<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

From the XI that last donned the baggy green, Travis Head and Cameron Green have been floated as options, while \ufeffother candidates include Marcus Harris – who scored a century in the Sheffield Shield opener for Victoria this week – as well as Queensland's Matt Renshaw and Western Australia's Cameron Bancroft.<\/p>\n

Teenage sensation Sam Konstas could even skyrocket into the mix if he backs up his maiden first-class century for NSW, such are the wraps on the young gun. \ufeff<\/p>\n

Wide World Of Sports takes a look at the options to open for Australia next month.<\/p>\n

\ufeffSteve Smith<\/h2>\n

The incumbent in the top spot is Smith, who moved up the order last summer.<\/p>\n

While his record – albeit from a small sample size – didn't set the world on fire, there's reason to believe the former captain can make a fist of opening on a long-term basis.<\/p>\n

\"Steve<\/p>\n

\ufeffSpeaking at a media event in Mumbai this week, Shane Watson expressed his desire to see Smith remain alongside Khawaja moving forward.<\/p>\n

"Steve Smith made the call to be able to open and I think he should stay there," he said.<\/p>\n

"The safety blanket for him would be moving back to No. 4, but I would love to see him continue to take on the opening spot because he's got the skill to be able to do it,"\ufeff<\/p>\n

"I believe the reason why he didn't do so well over the previous couple of Test matches is just he was a little bit off with his technique.<\/p>\n

"You see him getting out a couple of ways which I've never really seen him get out. I know he would've had time just to go away, make some little technical adjustments<\/p>\n

"He can be incredibly successful … knowing the incredible skill that he's got."<\/p>\n

\"Tubby<\/p>\n

Watson isn't the only one backing selectors to stick with the move, even if Smith might not love the idea tarnishing his incredible average in Test cricket. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"I also like Smith opening the batting – maybe more than he does," former Test skipper Ian Healy said in an interview with SportsBoom.<\/p>\n

Travis Head<\/h2>\n

There's been speculation Head could make the switch this summer, which would give the Aussies a closer resemblance to the power-packed approach Warner brought.<\/p>\n

But according to Healy, it might not be the right call for the South Australian. \ufeff<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"I think there is a reluctance from Travis to go up, which I would agree with," he said.<\/p>\n

"He is a much more scary proposition when the ball isn't doing as much. He should be able to enjoy middle-order freedom."<\/p>\n

Head has \ufeffopened the batting five times in Test cricket, scoring 223 runs at 55.75 but failing to reach triple-figures.<\/p>\n

Marcus Harris<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Couldn't have asked for a better start to the red ball season.<\/p>\n

He smashed 143 on day one against Tasmania at the Junction Oval to keep his name in the conversation.<\/p>\n

Has constantly flirted on the outside of the Test squad but his average of 25.29 means there's a constant perception he struggles to reach the heights of being a quality opener in the format.<\/p>\n

Currently averages just under 40 in first class cricket.<\/p>\n

Needs more than one hundred to force a call from the selectors. \ufeff<\/p>\n

Matt Renshaw<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Appears to be one of the most likely inclusions considering he's been consistently selected in Test squads.<\/p>\n

But it hasn't been a good start for Renshaw in the Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\n

He was dismissed for six against Western Australia in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield.<\/p>\n

Cameron Bancroft \ufeff<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The hard luck case of the opening conversation.<\/p>\n

Bancroft has been the best batter in Sheffield Shield cricket for at least the last two seasons, piling on the runs in a bid to return to the Aussie side.<\/p>\n

The sandpaper saga constantly hangs over his head, but captain Pat Cummins called Bancroft<\/a> to let him know the repercussions that came from that weren't the reason he was overlooked when David Warner retired.<\/p>\n

It was the worst possible start to the season for Bancroft, gone for a golden duck.<\/p>\n

\ufeffBut he'll forever be in contention because he's a specialist opener. And importantly, he can score runs.<\/p>\n

The knock on Bancroft's career at Test level has been around a habit to play around the ball on his pads.<\/p>\n

Obviously we haven't been able to see any improvements made around that yet. \ufeff<\/p>\n

Sam Konstas<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It's extremely far-fetched at this stage, but Konstas could be a 15-year player at the top level and his early Shield form will no doubt excite selectors. \ufeff<\/p>\n

"If a young opening batsman could force his way into the side, or we have to promote from within," Healy said.<\/p>\n

Konstas' maiden ton for the Blues came in just his fifth appearance in Shield cricket<\/a> and less than a week after his 19th birthday. \ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The debate around who will open the batting for Australia this summer is in full-swing, with two former Test stars weighing in ahead of the […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":425691,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425689"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=425689"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425689\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":425702,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/425689\/revisions\/425702"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/425691"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=425689"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=425689"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=425689"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}