Emerging opener Campbell Kellaway eyes stint in England to sharpen Test case

A rising Australian talent is hoping to boost his chances for Test ascension by performing in some of the world’s most challenging conditions. 

One of Australia’s brightest top order prospects is eager to sharpen his skills in England’s seaming conditions.

Rising Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway hasn’t put pen to paper anywhere yet, but is hopeful of playing County Cricket in the UK next winter.

Kellaway has burst onto Australian selectors’ radar with 18 months of strong form opening the batting for Victoria.

The compact left-hander scored 738 runs at an average of 41 with two hundreds and four half-centuries in a breakout season last summer.

He has added 319 runs at 32 to the midway point of this Shield campaign but also hit 82 and 71 for the Prime Minister’s and Australian A sides in the past fortnight.

“I would love to get over and play some County Cricket if anyone is keen to take me at some point over the winter,” Kellaway said.

The stocks in Campbell Kellaway have risen in recent months. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

“I guess if I keep trying to churn out as many runs as I can, whether it’s for the Vics or Aussie A or any Big Bash opportunities, hopefully that will take care of itself.”

Kellaway got the backing of former left-handed Test opener and current Victorian coach Chris Rogers in the lead up to this Shield season.

Rogers said Kellaway could be a strong partner to the highly touted Sam Konstas at the top of the order.

“Konstas is the one (Australian selectors) projected as the opening batter, so from my point of view, the other opener almost has to be a left-hander,” Rogers said.

“When was the last time Australia had two outstanding right-handed opening batters? I think with the LBW rule, left-handers statistically have an advantage, I’ve read.

“I would say Australia needs to be thinking about a left-handed opening batter to take Usman’s (Khawaja) spot and there’s not a heap of them around.

“Campbell could be the one if he keeps improving; there’s still a bit to go with him, but I think he’s got the skill set that could get him there.”

Kellaway has scored two half centuries in his last two innings for Australia’s reserves. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Kellaway opened with Konstas in an Australian A tour to India prior to the Shield season and again in the PM’s XI.

But Kellaway appears to have surpassed the five Test New South Welshman, as he and Matt Renshaw were instead picked to open in the Australian A game last week.

Kellaway does not need to play international cricket or 10 Twenty20 matches to be eligible for County Cricket after the British government loosened its requirements.

The previous ruling restricted players without the aforementioned experience to a 30-day visa.

But the criteria has since changed to 10 first class matches, and potentially opened the floodgates for an Australian influx ahead of the 2027 Ashes series.