Australian coach Andrew McDonald not rushing to make David Warner replacement call

It may not be as simple as looking just at the runs made by those batters looking to replace veteran Test opener David Warner when the selection call comes.

The inconsistent quality of Sheffield Shield pitches this season has left it “really hard to judge” the performance of would-be replacements for veteran Test opener David Warner according to Australian coach Andrew McDonald, who has no firm views on who that should be.

With the Shield season also now on hiatus, and one-Test hopeful Marcus Harris without a Big Bash contract, McDonald said exposed form had left him confident whoever selectors settled on would “do a really good job” should they be picked when Warner hangs up his baggy green cap at the end of the Pakistan series.

While it’s not a decision for now, with McDonald keen to take a match-by-match approach to selection, the decision may not be as simple as picking another opening batter.

A raft of theories have been raised, with McDonald himself suggesting a reshuffle of current batters in the squad could be a left-field solution, with other pundits suggesting Mitch Marsh could move to the top of the order.

An unbeaten 136 from Matthew Renshaw in the PM’s XI clash with Canberra last week was the most recent statement from those looking to take Warner’s spot, with Cameron Bancroft sitting on top of the Shield run-scoring lists with 512 and two centuries.

Matthew Renshaw made 136 not out for the Prime Minister’s XI. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

But while Renshaw has 348 runs and Harris 282 from five matches, McDonald said the comparison was not that simple, with several matches having been played on unfavourable wickets, and that all contributed to selection discussions.

He also said white-ball runs, such as in the Big Bash, could also play a part and any Test hopefuls could come from “different running lines”.

“But the Shield competition, for mine, is very strong,” he said.

“We’ve had some difficult wickets this year, so it’s been really hard to get a judge on what the batting units actually look like and what they may look like at international level.

“The currency is runs and there’s some players that have put their hand up there.

“I think we’re in good hands and I think the domestic competition prepares them well.

Cameron Bancroft is the leading Shield run-scorer. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“Everyone sort of looks to the future and worries about what’s next, and someone always puts their hand up.

“The next decision is the most important one once Dave goes. Dave hasn’t gone yet, so we don’t have to make a decision.”

The openers most likely, in Renshaw, Bancroft and Harris, have all had Test exposure with moderate success, but McDonald would be happy to go to them again.

“We know they can play, they’ve got good numbers in Shield cricket and I think if we were to go down that path and choose one of them, I think they would do a really good job,” he said.