Clear frontrunner emerges in race to replace David Warner at the top of the order

Australian coach Andrew McDonald said David Warner’s replacement was a race in four but it would now appear the shootout has come down to just two.

Marcus Harris is in the box seat to replace David Warner against the West Indies, unless selectors choose to gamble on a non-specialist opener.

It’s understood Victorian Harris, who has a Cricket Australia contract and went to England as the back-up batsman, is ahead of Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft in the pecking order of preferred openers.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald said before the Sydney Test that Warner’s replacement was a race in four but it would now appear the shootout has come down to just two: Harris or Cameron Green.

However, a left-field push from Shane Watson for Steve Smith (six not out off seven at stumps on day 2) to open the batting after Warner should give selectors food for thought because it would allow prodigious talent Green to return to the XI in his preferred position at No.4.

Usman Khawaja said he would leave Smith where he was but anyone who could bat in the top four could open.

Green averages 50 batting at No.4 for Western Australia.

Marcus Harris (R) appears to be in a two-horse race with Cam Green to replace David Warner. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“I say it’s a specialist position in brackets but I think anyone who can bat in the top four can open,” Khawaja said after a well-made 47 on a frustrating day two that ended three hours prematurely due to bad light and rain with Australia 2-116 in response to Pakistan’s first innings of 313.

“If you’re batting in the top four you’re probably coming in against the new ball a fair bit, especially in Shield cricket.

“I wouldn’t want to sacrifice the second-greatest ever Test batsman after The Don off the position he’s been batting so long.

“The beauty of Steve Smith is he’s a beautiful No.4 batsman. He can bat against pace. He’s really good against spin.

“And we don’t only just play in Australia. We play in other places, parts of the world, and I think that’s his best spot for the team.”

Warner’s bid to score a fairytale hundred in his farewell Test in Sydney now hinges on getting another crack in the second innings, after he edged Pakistan spinner Salman Ali Agha to slip to fall for 34.

But the importance of selectors getting Warner’s successor right was emphasised in Australia’s slow scoring rate when he was dismissed.

Khawaja (47 off 143) and Marnus Labuschagne (23 not out off 66) played careful innings that stood in contrast to Warner’s brisk strike-rate of 50, to highlight the loss that Warner will be when he departs.

Pakistan’s catching was again diabolical. Debutant Saim Ayub dropped Warner at first slip for 20.

Warner endorsed Harris as his replacement during the Boxing Day Test and Harris did make a recent hundred in a CA XI match against Pakistan.

Harris has played 14 Tests and averages just 25 with no centuries but what he has exhibited throughout his strong first-class career is an ability to strike above 50 and play his shots.

In that sense, Harris might help Australia maintain its current rhythms if selected, although it would be naïve to think there will ever be another David Warner.

Will Cameron Green partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order? Picture: Michael Klein

Test great Ricky Ponting has maintained all along that Australia must pick a specialist opener to replace Warner and has dismissed young all-rounder Green’s prospects of being picked as an opener as “no chance”.

“I think it should be a specialist opener,” Ponting told The Australian three weeks ago.

Ponting said at the start of the summer that Bancroft, the highest run-scorer in Sheffield Shield over the past two summers, should be the favourite to replace Warner.

However, unless there is a late change in thinking, it would appear Bancroft is behind Harris and Renshaw in the reckoning.

Renshaw shares a close bond with Khawaja but his attributes might make him best suited to being Khawaja’s ultimate successor, not Warner’s.

Test great and Fox Cricket expert Mark Waugh believes selectors should roll the dice on picking Green as an opener for the two-Test series against West Indies that starts in two weeks.

Green is the 12th man having lost his place in the team to Mitchell Marsh during the Ashes last year but coach McDonald has made it clear he wants the young West Australian back in the team sooner rather than later.

Mitchell Marsh has relegated Cameron Green (pictured) to 12th man. Picture: Mark Stewart

“I’m going Cameron Green,” Waugh said on Fox Cricket. “Got to get him in the team.

“He offers with the ball, in the field. He could be a bit like Shane Watson. He batted down the middle then he opened the batting for Australia.

“He’s a good player of fast bowling. I feel he gets a bit nervous sitting around all day so get him in against the new ball.

“He has a sound technique, big tall boy, I’m going with him.”

Former England captain Michael Vaughan backed Waugh’s call on Fox.

“Cameron Green for me plays the quicks well, he is a better player when the spinner comes on than starting against spin,” Vaughan said.

“I think he’s a world-class performer.”

Originally published as Clear frontrunner emerges in race to replace David Warner at the top of the order