Michael Clarke says Matthew Wade should open against India to allow Aussies to play Cameron Green
If Australia want to get their exciting 21-year-old all-rounder into Test action against India then Michael Clarke says they must get creative at the top of the order to make it happen.
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Michael Clarke believes Matthew Wade could be pitchforked into a heavy duty opening role in the pink ball Test in a move which would allow a Test debut for Cameron Green.
Green’s chances of playing could hinge on the fate of Will Pucovski, if the Victorian young gun is ruled out of the Test then forces a reshaping of the Australian batting order.
Test great Adam Gilchrist is against the idea of promoting Marnus Labuschagne to open, because the stability he’s provided Australia at No.3 is not worth disrupting for the sake of one or two Tests.
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However, former captain Clarke says injuries to David Warner and Will Pucovski demand that selectors now prioritise a strategy of picking their top six batsmen for the first Test against India, rather than being too focused on positions.
There is a feeling that if Pucovski can’t play due to concussion, selectors might be more inclined to try and inject their other prodigy Green, because going into a Test without either man would appear a huge missed opportunity given the form they’ve brought into the summer.
But Green can’t be a straight swap for Pucovski, meaning selectors would have to get creative.
Wade is an outstanding white ball opener, with no experience at the top of the order in first-class cricket – but Clarke believes the left-hander is in “career best form” and could handle the challenge.
Moving Wade out of No.6 to open, would then open a door for Green.
“If need be. Wadey has to be in the XI. He’s been batting at No.6 but if they decide to go to Cameron Green at No.6 then you have to find another spot,” said Clarke, who was speaking at the 40th anniversary of prestige watch brand, Hublot.
“I would be working out who I feel the best six batsmen are, and I would be picking those. If Cameron Green’s numbers batting wise are good enough to fight his way in I’d be picking him.
“For me it’s more going to be dictated by who else they pick. And that’s what I loved about Wadey.
“When I played with him and captained him, the fact that he’ll do whatever the team needs: Open the batting, bat at No.4, No.6, bowl, keep, he’ll have a crack.
“I really enjoyed seeing him get the chance to captain Australia in that T20 and whatever is thrown at him, he’s in career best form, there’s no doubt about it.
“If they ask him to open the batting he would look forward to the opportunity.”
Andrew Symonds suggested at a Fox Cricket launch on Wednesday that Usman Khawaja was on standby to come into the Test squad if Pucovski is ruled out.
Australian and Sydney Thunder officials denied that claim, with Tasmanian Ben McDermott the player drafted into the Australia A squad in place of Pucovski.
However, Pucovski will remain with the Australia A squad and will be monitored before a decision is made on whether he travels to Adelaide to push his claims for the first Test.
“Will has progressed as expected and is experiencing mild symptoms of concussion similar to (Tuesday),” said Dr John Orchard, Australian team doctor.
“He is in good spirits and has been communicating and interacting regularly with teammates and staff.
“Will will remain with the Australia A squad in Sydney where we will continue to monitor his progress.”
Mitchell Starc did not fly to Adelaide with the team on Wednesday as he continues to take time with a family illness. Josh Hazlewood missed the last two T20s but isn’t under any doubt for the first Test.
Marnus might be answer to Aussie concerns
Cameron Green might be trapped in a queue for positions in the first Test team, but there’s one simple trick that would see him jump it.
Marnus Labuschagne has expressed a willingness to take on the challenge of opening the batting at the highest level, and this single selection move would allow Australia to unleash the talents of both Will Pucovski and Green in the series opener against India.
Green added to his 125 not out for Australia A by also storming into the attack to take a seventh over wicket on Tuesday, putting further pressure on selectors to find a way to get him into the first Test as the multidimensional x-factor India would be desperate not to face this summer.
Shifting Labuschagne up to the frontline when he has had such world-beating success at No. 3 is a bold play and admittedly a risk, but selectors can take confidence from the Queenslander’s fearless nature and pedigree as an opener in Sheffield Shield cricket.
If Australia opened with Labuschagne and Pucovski in the absence of David Warner, then the side would lose nothing at the crucial No. 3 position because of Steve Smith.
All-round prodigy Green could then slot into a middle-order also featuring the improving Travis Head and rock solid Matthew Wade, and suddenly it’s a top six featuring all the names that have fans and selectors buzzing this summer.
If Warner is fit for the second Test at the MCG, a call can be made then on who loses out in a game of musical chairs between Green, Pucovski, Wade and Head.
Opening is a specialist position and based on his very handy Test career, Joe Burns would do a good job for the first Test.
But on evidence so far this summer, Burns has made six scores under 30, while Pucovski and Green have only reinforced their reputation as once-in-a-generation superstars in the making.
Incumbency can only get you so far, and selectors must be nervous about Burns.
Under the current thinking, Green is competing against middle-order men Wade and Head, which is why he’s likely to have to wait his turn.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The presence of a player as flexible, reliable and willing as Labuschagne gives selectors the luxury of asking themselves, who would they prefer in their first Test team – Cameron Green or Joe Burns?
Australian coach Justin Langer is on the record as saying Labuschagne could be considered as a Test opener, and only last week he was elevated to the top of the ODI order to cover for Warner.
Labuschagne made 83 on debut batting as an opener for Queensland in Sheffield Shield cricket, and played extensively as an opener in junior cricket.
As a man who himself was best known as a No. 3 before carving out a career as one of the best opening batsmen of the past 30 years, Langer knows the characteristics of an opener when he sees one.
Losing Warner has exposed a chink in the Australian armour that India will be desperate to exploit in Adelaide before Virat Kohli himself leaves the country.
Australia can’t replace Warner’s experience based on who is in their squad, but what they can do in this situation is make the bold declaration to themselves and India that the future begins now.
Selectors will want Pucovski and Green in their XI for next summer’s Ashes.
If they’re both in the squad and both in form, the question needs to be … why not now?
ALTERNATIVE FIRST TEST TEAM
Marnus Labuschagne, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Green, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
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