Race to replace David Warner: Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft to audition in Prime Minister’s XI match

After his blistering World Cup, it appears David Warner will get his wish for a farewell SCG Test. But who will opening the batting for Australia beyond that? See what the selectors are planning.

As David Warner prepares for one of the biggest games of his career, Australia has selected its cast to audition for the right to follow in his footsteps.

This masthead can reveal that Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft are all set to be selected in next month’s four-day Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan in what shapes as a bat-off to ultimately replace one of Australia’s all-time greats.

It is now widely expected on the back of his hulking World Cup masterclass that Warner will keep his place for the first Test of the summer and earn the right to retire on his terms at his home ground the Sydney Cricket Ground after the third Test against Pakistan.

But at the very least it means there is a vacancy at the top of the order for the first Test against the West Indies starting January 17 at Adelaide Oval, and domestic guns Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft are all gunning for the one spot.

Harris, 31, would appear the early favourite given he was the first reserve on the Ashes tour and he made a recent 164 for Victoria against Sheffield Shield high flyers Tasmania.

However, Bancroft is in outstanding form for Western Australia with two Shield centuries, a 91 and a 54 to start the summer, while Renshaw – another Ashes tourist – is also in good touch with a first-class century and a one-day century for Queensland.

Marcus Harris has made a strong start to Victoria’s season. Picture: Getty Images

There is no doubt that a premium will be put on runs made in the PM’s fixture starting on December 6 at Manuka Oval in Canberra, and selectors will be watching with interest who out of Harris, Renshaw and Bancroft can stand up and deliver when the spotlight is on – as Warner has done on countless occasions throughout his stellar career.

Warner has had a monstrous World Cup, making two hundreds and two 50s to leave a legacy as perhaps Australia’s greatest ever white ball batsman, and although there are no guarantees he will be given a rare farewell Test series, greats including Steve Waugh believe he’s earned one.

“If George Bailey picked him for the Ashes last year I think he’ll probably get picked again,” Waugh told this masthead.

“The jury was out if he was going to get picked on that (Ashes) tour. But he’s played so well here (in the World Cup) and he won’t get any opportunity to play any four-day cricket (before the summer).

“So you’ve probably got to judge him on his form in the one-day arena. I’m suspecting, gut feel is he’ll probably play.”

Fellow Test icon Adam Gilchrist expects Warner will be there for the first Test of the summer, but after that it’s up to him whether he gets to Sydney for the fairytale farewell.

Batting great Mike Hussey said it’s not a straightforward decision for selectors given the appeal of giving a new opener a relatively soft entry into the team against Pakistan at home – but believes Warner’s record has earned him the right to go out on his terms with three final Tests.

“I do believe Davey Warner has earned the right if that’s the way you want to put it, to go out on his terms,” Hussey said.

Matt Renshaw has a Test century to his name. Picture: Getty Images

“He’s been a remarkable player for Australia for a long, long period of time.

“Personally, I don’t really think that the World Cup form has too much bearing. I feel as though red ball cricket and white ball cricket are very different.

“But I think what he has done for the country does deserve him a little bit more rope along the way and if he’s very clear he wants to go out at that time, I’d certainly be willing to entertain it as long as he’s still performing at an adequate level.

“My gut feeling is yes, he does deserve go to out at the SCG in front of his home crowd.”

The three candidates in-line to replace Warner is an interesting field given they’ve all had a decent crack at Test cricket in the past but failed to cement a permanent place.

Renshaw is the youngest at 27 and the only one to have scored a Test century.

Harris has been the next man in line for some time, but for the 14 Tests he’s played he’s averaged just 25.29.

Bancroft started the 2019 Ashes tour of the UK before being axed and hasn’t been seen since – but he has been Australia’s most consistent domestic batsman of the past two seasons and when you consider the void Warner will also leave in the field, Bancroft is far and away the best and most dynamic fieldsman of the three candidates.

Originally published as Race to replace David Warner: Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft to audition in Prime Minister’s XI match