Australian cricket: Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green options for David Warner’s opener replacement

Australian selectors have been urged to ditch the current crop of second-tier openers when replacing David Warner his summer, and instead opt for a nuclear option.

Support is building for Mitchell Marsh to be the shock choice to succeed David Warner as Australia’s Test opener, as it becomes clear Marnus Labuschagne would prefer to stay at No.3.

Former Test vice-captain Brad Haddin has joined batting great Greg Chappell in pushing the case for all-rounder Marsh to be elevated as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner later this summer following Warner’s retirement.

There is a growing feeling that Marsh is the man who can best replicate Warner’s dazzling strike rate, and he won’t get a better chance to make an immediate impression in the new role than against the West Indies on home soil in Adelaide and Brisbane.

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has also joined the debate as a man who famously batted in every position in the top six to declare young Cameron Green would also be more than capable of opening the batting if called upon.

Specialist opening batsmen Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw will all have an opportunity to press their names forward on day two of the Prime Minister’s XI clash with Pakistan in Canberra, but their biggest obstacle to a Test recall shapes as Green – who will bat at No.4 for the PM’s XI.

Marcus Harris is one of the chasing pack fighting it out for Warner’s soon-to-be-vacant spot. Picture: Getty

Respected Fox Cricket analyst Brad Haddin said on The Willow Talk Podcast that he liked seasoned ODI opener Marsh as Warner’s top of the order replacement in the Test team.

“I think if you look at Mitch Marsh. He plays fast bowling as well as anyone and in this modern game it’s good to have an opening batsman who looks to be proactive, looks to take the game on,” Haddin said on Willow Talk.

“He picks up length as quick as anyone in this Australian team. He’s faced a lot of fast bowling in the West. When there’s opportunities I don’t mind his name and see how he goes at the top of the order.”

As it stands, Marsh will be Australia’s No.6 for the first Test of the summer against Pakistan and Green will carry the drinks, but everything will be thrown into the mix again once Warner hangs up the gloves after the Sydney Test.

Mitchell Marsh made a triumphant return to the Test team during this year’s Ashes. Picture: Getty

Khawaja has gone the other way and said opening really is a job for a specialist, and talked down Labuschagne’s interest in a promotion.

But Australian coach Andrew McDonald recently used Shane Watson as one of his prime examples of a player who has been transitioned from down the order to opening the batting as a way of explaining why Green is well placed to return to the void left by Warner, rather than a specialist opener.

In fact opening was Watson’s most successful position in Test cricket, and he believes the same thing could happen for one of Australia’s two star all-rounders.

“I loved the opportunity to move around the order, because it made me have to develop different skills, different game plans to different situations,” Watson told Willow Talk.

David Warner has indicated he wants a farewell Test at the SCG before hanging up the boots this summer. Picture: Getty

“And luckily that I got the opportunity to open the batting because it freed up my mindset more than anything.

“Even in Test cricket batting at 4 or 6 for example you’ve got to see what’s going on.

“And if you’re 2-0 you go into more defensive mode, well I did anyway. Let’s build a partnership.

“If you go in at 2-300 you think it’s a T20 game and launch from ball one.

“(Opening) just gave me the freedom that whatever happens I don’t really care.

“That actually freed up my mind to go out and take the game on. Fortunately because I batted at the top of the order in my early 20s and I built my technical game, I was well equipped to handle opening the batting as well.

“When it comes to Cameron Green, it’s only a good thing he moves around. He’s definitely got the technique whether he opens or bats 3 or 4 in Test cricket. He knows how to score runs, he’s got a simple technique and he’ll continue to work it out.

“He’s a fast learner as well. If you go back and score runs like he continues to do – he dominates.

“One of the biggest skills as a batter is to know how to score runs and he does.”