Next Aussie openers.

[K]

B. Horne:

"Mystery surrounding Australia's plans for India this summer took a dramatic twist after Marnus Labuschagne made a shock switch to open the batting in English cricket.

It was significant that Labuschagne would make the move in the first place and more noteworthy when he smashed a magnificent century in his first match at the top of the order for Glamorgan in the English County Championship.
...

... Usman Khawaja said last week he would be shocked if selectors did not at least discuss shifting Smith back down the order."

(Hun)

[K]

Matt Hayden reckons playing FTB as opener is "crazy":

'“The role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different,” Hayden said in India last week. “And it didn’t take long to discover that when you get into challenging conditions – like they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand – that opening the batting is very difficult.”'

(The Age)

[K]

Hayden's opening partner, Langer, also reckons FTB Smith should be moved down the order.

But of course Langer sugarcoats it all. Says FTB is "better suited" to batting down the order, or something like that.

[K]

"... Usman Khawaja said last week he would be shocked if selectors did not at least discuss shifting Smith back down the order."

(Hun)

McDonald admitted selectors are undecided on whether to continue the failed FTB-as-opener experiment.

'"That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it?" McDonald told SEN radio when asked where Smith would bat. "While we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one.

"There’s plenty of speculation around that, but in the background I’d be lying if I said that conversation wasn’t happening.

"Clearly, Patty Cummins, as the captain, is a big part of that … we’ve already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we’re thinking for the summer, and that goes right down to depth bowling and all those hypotheticals and ‘what-ifs’ that we always go through.

"Clearly, if we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top. We've seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed at the moment."'

[Donny]

Does Head move up to open with Ussy, considering his recent outstanding short game form ?

Smith back to 4 and Green, to 5.

[K]

B. Horne:

Khawaja backs Head as opening partner

'"At the end of the day, it's a decision for the selectors," Khawaja said. "But if you have me opening, Labuschagne at three, Smith at four ... I feel like Travis Head might be best suited."
...

It is unknown whether selectors are yet to make a decision on who will open, although it seems almost certain the call has been made to move Smith back down the order.'

(The Australian)

[K]

Ian Chappell reckons playing Head as opener would be "a desperate ploy"... Yeah, but playing FTB as opener was "crazy", as Matt Hayden said. FTB's defective technique was destroyed AND he doesn't even have the option of trying to slog his way out of trouble... 'Cos he has no shots, no power...

Can see why Mr NickIt, Khawaja, is so keen to have Head partner him. It's so Head can do all the scoring and there's no pressure on Khawaja to score. With FTB, it's the opposite. When it was first reported that FTB would open with Khawaja, one reader comment was:
"We will be 0/11 at lunch."

[Pies4shaw]

George Bailey has confirmed that Australia’s greatest batsman since Bradman is going to move back to number 4 (which is where the best batsman in every Test team ever has always batted).

[K]

Cam Bancroft didn't help himself by making twin ducks (against QLD).

Sam Konstas def helped himself by making twin centuries (against SA). 1st teen to do that since Oz's last great batsman, Ricky Ponting.


Brettig:

'Twin centuries against South Australia last week made Konstas the first teenager to achieve that feat in the shield since an 18-year-old Ricky Ponting in 1993, and further big scores against Victoria and India A would conceivably make him a rough chance to vault into the Test team against India.

As senior figures have pondered over the past week: "What if he gets five hundreds in a row?"'

(The Age)


Amazing that they reckon Konstas might be able to do what FTB Smith can't do: open successfully.

[Pies4shaw]

The job is just to face 25 deliveries and take some shine off the ball before GoatSmith comes to the crease.

[qldmagpie67]

The wrap on Konstas is real
I watched extended highlights of his twin centuries
He knows where his off stump is and is a good leaver of the ball
He also as a typical left handed he’s strong off his legs
Is it too early to give him a run ?
Opening at test level would be a daunting task for a 18yr old
Personally I would give him a full season in shield cricket and go for probably Harris who at least has some success at test level. If the selectors don’t go for him then Renshaw would be next can off the rank for me

1. Uzman
2. Renshaw/Harris
3. Marnus
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Marsh
7. Carey
8. Cummins
9. Starc
10. Lyons
11. Hazlewood

Smokey is Beau Webster