Is replacing David Warner with Marnus Labuschagne really the right call?

Australia are in need of a new opener after David Warner retires, but ROBERT CRADDOCK has cast doubt over whether pushing Marnus Labuschagne up the order is really the best move.

When you are sitting on top of the world it is really worth weakening a strength to strengthen a weakness?

That, essentially, is the conundrum facing Australia if they promote Marnus Labuschagne from his customary No 3 spot to open the innings when David Warner’s career ends, probably after the Sydney Test against Pakistan.

In the short term, such a move may mean nothing because every child should win a prize at some stage in the two Test series against the battling West Indies in January.

But moving Labuschagne would actually be a massive call because looming over the horizon is the behemoth which has sentenced Australia to eternal Test match agony … India.

The five Test series against India in Australia next season is an ultra-important summer for the home side as the careers of a number of exceptional players enter the home straight.

They want this one … badly.

Marnus Labuschagne is a chance to open the batting for Australia after David Warner retires. Picture: Getty Images

Australia has lost its past two home series against India, one from a seemingly unlosable position, and has beaten India in India once in 44 years.

Australia’s epic 50-over win over India in the World Cup final was as good as it gets in a white ball sense but it now needs to crack the Test match curse.

When choosing an opening batsman this summer the selectors need to picture Jasprit Bumrah steaming in from the Vulture St end at the Gabba and the magnificent craftsman Mohammed Shami bowling from the other end.

Labuschagne would be up for that fight but wouldn’t it be better if you could have someone who could keep him away from those two menacing marauders for the first hour?

Australia’s problem is they are still trying to convince themselves either Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft is that man and they are extremely keen to get both Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh in the side.

The selectors had an excellent World Cup and it is true, as coach Andrew McDonald said, that David Boon and Justin Langer were once successfully promoted from No 3 to open.

Even Usman Khawaja was initially better known down the order.

The hunt is on to replace David Warner. Picture: Getty Images

Labuschagne may have opened in his first season for Queensland but No 3 is his spot.

This was emphatically spelt on the day he was promoted to fill the No 3 spot, once occupied by the likes of Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting, in his third Test in January, 2019, against India at the SCG.

Test selector Greg Chappell had offered the spot to another player in the batting order who showed only mild interest.

But when he then spoke to Labuschagne about the prospect of batting at three the batsman’s face lit up in a “let me at ‘em’’ sort of way.

Chappell was most impressed and told people at the ground he felt Labuschagne had the attitude to go a long way in the game. And so it proved.

Marnus being Marnus, if offered the opening role he would no doubt do his duty for the team.

But it’s just that the one-two-three punch of Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Travis Head at three, four and five has so much going for it.

If it ain’t broke …