By Nick Wright
Brisbane: As the shadows draw over the final stages of Usman Khawaja’s Test career, the next generation of Australian openers are suddenly lining up to stake a claim on his place in the side.
While selectors have struggled to lock down a long-term opening pairing after David Warner’s retirement early last year, Matt Renshaw (14 Tests), Nathan McSweeney (three) and Sam Konstas (five) have hit form at the same time.
Selectors now have an embarrassment of riches, given the form of incumbents Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, who in the first Test of this Ashes series became Khawaja’s seventh opening partner since his own return to the side in 2022. Warner had 13 different opening partners in his Test career, Chris Rogers (41 innings) the most frequent of those.
Nathan McSweeney struggled last summer against India, but was at his best for Australia A against the England Lions.Credit: Getty Images
While the current Australian side extended their first-innings lead over England at the Gabba on Saturday, McSweeney issued a timely reminder of his credentials little more than 10 minutes down the road, storming to an unbeaten 222 from No.3 as Australia A reached 7-554 at stumps on day two against the England Lions, where his career began at Allan Border Field.
The 26-year-old endured a trial by fire upon his international debut against India last summer, thrust into the then-unfamiliar role of opener, in which he struggled against Jasprit Bumrah.
While the Queenslander failed to impress in his three appearances out of position, averaging just 14.40 as he struggled to find ways to navigate the Bumrah threat, he has steadily built into his 2025-26 season, culminating in his huge ton by the tea break on day two against the Lions in Brisbane.
It followed his 63 for the Prime Minister’s XI against the same rivals, having scored a century and half-century in his past three Sheffield Shield clashes.
Meanwhile, about eight kilometres up the road at the Gabba, Marnus Labuschagne (65), Alex Carey (63), Steve Smith (61), Cameron Green (45) and Head (33) were guilty of blowing chances to go big with rash strokes.
McSweeney initially played the anchor role alongside promising opener Campbell Kellaway (71), and one-Test rookie Cooper Connolly (88 from just 92 deliveries), before opening the shackles to strike 27 fours and two sixes.
While Khawaja has not indicated he will retire after his back spasms ruled him out of the second Test – replaced by Josh Inglis – Head’s flexibility opening alongside Weatherald has only widened the pool of potential successors.
Cooper Connolly was delighted when presented with his baggy green cap in February. Now comes the challenge of working towards a recall.Credit: Getty Images
Seven-Test all-rounder Beau Webster contributed with 44 for Australia A, while Konstas struck his first century of the Shield season for New South Wales on Friday.
Renshaw, who was previously endorsed by Khawaja for an Ashes call-up, managed just eight against the Lions but has three Shield tons to his name already this summer.
Given how Australia’s fringe prospects dismantled what is essentially England’s second string line-up, it paints a harrowing picture for the tourists.
The Lions were rolled for just 166 in their first innings on a wicket that has largely been a batsman’s paradise.
Highly touted youngster Jacob Bethell – who boasts three half-centuries from four Test caps, but is yet to score a first-class ton – fell to off-spinner Todd Murphy for just 19.
Despite four Englishmen succumbing for ducks in the second Test’s first innings against an Australian attack missing Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, the 22-year-old is long odds to force his way into the top side based on his form.
Among those failures was Bethell’s rival No.3 Ollie Pope. Despite a promising start in Perth – scoring 48 and 33 – he has managed just one half-century in his past 11 innings to average just 25.36.
But when asked if the English top order needed to do more to support him, given the rash nature in which Pope and Harry Brook fell playing shots away from their body, Root stressed it was “not as black and white as that”.
“I think the rest of the top order have to trust their ability to read the situation and play how they see fit, and I think they’re very good at doing that time and time again,” Root said.
“That’s why they’ve had the success they’ve had individually. I trust every single one of them. I know they’re going out there giving absolutely everything they can to try and get the highest output as long as possible.
“I trust in their games and trust in their decision-making out there in these conditions. They’re all more than capable of winning matches for England.”