Matthew Hayden questions Australia’s opener rotation as Jake Weatherald looms for Test debut
If Jake Weatherald debuts in Perth, he will be Usman Khawaja’s seventh partner since David Warner retired less than two years ago — and a fed-up Matthew Hayden has had enough.
Matthew Hayden believes Australia’s selectors played a major role in the Test team’s top order chaos with a “crazy scheme’’ he strongly disagrees with.
Australia, remarkably, is set for its seventh change of opener in what will be the 16th Test since David Warner retired with Jake Weatherald or Marnus Labuschagne to partner veteran Usman Khawaja in the first Ashes Test in Perth.
Aside from rookie opener Sam Konstas, Australia has gambled on makeshift options like Steve Smith, Labuschagne, Nathan McSweeney and Travis Head who were all shifted up the order post-Warner as part of a constantly shuffled deck with the selectors choosing their top six batsmen first then sorting out the order they bat in.
Hayden believes more respect should have been shown to the unique challenges of opening the batting, claiming the constant changing of positions upset the stability of the team.
“They messed it up with George Bailey coming up with this crazy scheme of you just pick your best six,’’ Hayden told this masthead.
“I told you this the last time we were talking about Steve Smith opening the batting.
“This theory you just play your best six batsman in whatever order – I fundamentally disagree with it and have done for some time.
“It just upsets the apple cart. You had Smith opening in New Zealand then he fails so he doesn’t want to do it again.
“Sam Konstas goes to Sri Lanka and does not get picked but why wouldn’t you pick a kid who has had the success of his life? Was Travis Head in that good a form to open the batting out of position in Sri Lanka?
“It’s about cricket teams and confidence. You need to have set plays among a myriad of formats.
“I do not want Marnus opening. Typically he will say ‘I need my spot back, I will bat wherever’. But he’s at three. That’s where he wants to bat. That’s where he is batting. That is where he is going to showcase his skills again.’’
Hayden, who scored 30 centuries as a specialist opener, said it helped the Australian teams of his era that roles were more clearly defined.
“We were just settled. I know that Alfie (Justin) Langer came in and went up and down a bit but you had players like Matthew Elliott making runs. There was never any suggestion we would not open. Keep it simple stupid. It has been an age old adage of sport and it will be forever as well.’’
Weatherald is favoured to open the batting in Perth unless Cameron Green cannot bowl.
The selectors are hoping Green can bowl 15 to 20 overs in next week’s Sheffield Shield match between Western Australia and Queensland and if he passes that test is likely to bat down the order in Perth with Beau Webster set to be dropped.
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