The much-anticipated Test series of the year is just two weeks away, with India set to face Australia in a gruelling five-match showdown Down Under. Both sides are feeling the heat. India arrives on Australian soil after a humbling 3-0 defeat at home to New Zealand. Meanwhile, the pressure on Australia is intense—they haven’t held the Border-Gavaskar Trophy since the 2014-15 series. They’ve been defeated twice at home by India and will surely be looking to end the losing streak against the Asian powerhouse. However, to do so, they’ll need to get a lot of things right, starting from the very top.
Who will open with Usman Khawaja? It is a question that has been circulating in the Australian cricketing circles for months now. After David Warner’s retirement, Steve Smith was moved to open, but the change didn’t bring success, as he scored just 171 runs at an average of 28.50 in that position.
Khawaja has stated that he personally prefers not to see Smith opening, advocating instead for Smith to return to his usual position at number 4. National selector George Bailey echoed this sentiment, confirming that Smith won’t be considered for the opening spot. Bailey’s statement has fuelled the debate, with the vacant opener’s position becoming a hot topic.
Three main contenders have now emerged for the role: Nathan McSweeney, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft. Australia have yet to announce their squad, as they will closely evaluate the performances of these players and others in the Australia A squad currently competing in the two-match unofficial Test series against India A.
Two weeks ago, McSweeney wasn’t even in contention, but his fortunes have shifted dramatically over the past three games. The South Australia batter began the Sheffield Shield season with a bang, scoring 55 and an unbeaten 127 in his first game against New South Wales in Sydney. The right-handed batter followed it up with 37 and 72 in challenging conditions in Brisbane, against a Queensland bowling attack led by Michael Neser. His impressive run continued against India A in Mackay, where he scored 127 runs across two innings, including an unbeaten 88 in the run-chase. The 25-year-old is in the form of his life and has the support of Warner to open with Khawaja.
“He looks a complete player, and I think he’s a good fit with Uzzie (Usman Khawaja) at the top of the order,” Warner was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
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The only thing that might go against him is that he has played only one innings as an opener in first-class cricket, and that was yesterday against India A in the ongoing second unofficial Test in Melbourne. In challenging conditions, he made a steady start but was eventually caught at second slip for 14. He’ll have one more chance to make an impression, and given his strong performances in second innings, he might just secure a spot in the Test squad.
South Australia’s captain is regarded as one of the most technically sound uncapped batters in Australia. He excels with shots square of the wicket and has a sharp eye for picking up the length quickly. Unlike many of Australia’s top-order players, who often chase deliveries outside off, McSweeney’s instinct is to leave it —a quality that sets him apart and strengthens his defence.
On a pitch where 12 wickets fell at the MCG, Harris, opening alongside McSweeney, managed to top-score for his team with a well-crafted 74 in the first innings. The left-hander successfully navigated through the initial spells from India A’s pace trio of Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed, and Prasidh Krishna. Once the Kookaburra ball got soft, he began playing his shots to guide his team to a 62-run lead.
Harris began his Sheffield Shield season on a strong note, with scores of 143 and 52 against Tasmania. However, his form dipped in the subsequent games, where he registered scores of 26, 16, 17 and 36 across four innings. Among the options, Harris is arguably the safest choice given his experience against India’s formidable pace attack.
The 32-year-old knows well the task of facing such an attack, having debuted under similar conditions in 2018. In his 14 Test matches, he’s faced England in seven, India in five, and Sri Lanka in two. While it’s been nearly three years since his last Test, if McSweeney isn’t selected, Harris’s experience could make him the most reliable option at the top.
At the moment, Cameron Bancroft is behind the two aforementioned players. His tough run of form continued, adding only 3 more runs to his season’s first-class tally, which now stands at just 29 from seven innings, before he was dismissed with a well-timed pull shot to forward square leg against India A at the MCG. Bancroft has the skill and temperament needed for success in Test cricket. However, his current slump could very well cost him a spot for the upcoming home summer.
Also Read: KL Rahul could be answer to India’s opening dilemma, if he gets his mind right