Australia’s opener experiment to continue after going through a scattergun phase of 5 openers in 12 test matches.
Australia’s opener experiment seems to continue a bit longer.
Other than Usman Khawaja, who has been the only consistent opener in 11 Test matches since Warner’s retirement in January 2024, Australia has used four different openers over this time. A fifth different opener in 12 Test matches might occur during this time, which is ahead of the WTC final against South Africa at Lord’s on June 11.
After the two matches against India, Sam Konstas has an opportunity to resume his career, although the selectors may once more use their imagination. Despite averaging 28.33 in this WTC cycle, Labuschagne is still in the running, while Inglis, who struck a century on his debut in Sri Lanka, has not been disqualified. Selector George Bailey has suggested that the opening position does not necessarily need to be a specialised one.
“I think [Josh] could do it, but I’ve said the same about Marnus,” Bailey said after confirmation of Australia’s 15-player squad for the final, and the subsequent three-Test tour of the West Indies. “I do think it’s a role that more people could do. I know there is a prevailing thought it is a specialised role.
“In certain conditions, there’s opportunities at different times that guys could do it – whether that’s England for Josh, or whether it’s in that middle order, where he’s had success already.”
In first-class cricket, Labuschagne has opened 15 times, but just once since 2016. In that match, he scored a century for Glamorgan against Middlesex in May of last year. In contrast, Inglis has never accomplished this feat in first-class cricket.
Since Warner’s retirement, Australia has explored options other than frontline red-ball openers, with varying degrees of success. Cameron Green was able to return at No. 4 because Steven Smith had first dibs on the position. Smith only played four Test matches as an opener against the West Indies and New Zealand, but he had an incredible 91 not out at the Gabba during his tenure. After opening for Australia A a few weeks prior, Nathan McSweeney made his debut against India in Perth. Like many others, he struggled against Jasprit Bumrah.