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With the saga involving Pat Cummins’ availability settled (for the first Test at least), attention has turned to the actual problem with the Australian side that will play in Perth – who will bat in the top six, and where?
It’s been an issue for the Australian men’s Test side for an extended period, and there’s nothing like a home Ashes series to further stoke discussion.
Ahead of next week’s announcement of the Australian squad for the series opener, the cricket experts from the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have come up with their preferred top six to face Jofra Archer and friends at Optus Stadium from November 21.
While most of the conjecture surrounds who will open the batting, the all-rounder spot is also not settled.
Daniel Brettig
Usman Khawaja
Cameron Green
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Beau Webster
Marnus Labuschagne has started the summer strongly.Credit: Getty Images
The best six batters for the job, with Cameron Green skipping up to open with Khawaja so that Labuschagne can bat in his preferred number three, and there is also room for Webster’s bowling and handy runs. Before Green’s back injury a year ago, there were whispers that he might be tried as an opener so Smith could move back to four. It’s considered a left-field option now, but it allows for Australia to take in six batters of known quality without sacrificing the all-round option that Webster provides.
Another factor in Green’s favour is that none of the prospective openers have made the runs that would make a truly compelling case for their inclusion to start the Ashes. Later in the series, Mitch Marsh would be another option as an aggressor at the top.
Tom Decent
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Cameron Green
Travis Head
Beau Webster
Usman Khawaja’s big-game experience remains invaluable. The 38-year-old deserves the first two Tests at the top, but if he doesn’t make a significant score, a farewell at the Gabba looms. That is unless Australia record big wins in Perth and Brisbane. Khawaja peeled off 232 against Sri Lanka earlier this year, yet he has passed 90 just once in 44 Test innings since June 2023.
Marnus Labuschagne’s runs for Queensland are encouraging, and facing the new ball won’t bother him.
Green is well-suited to No.4 and is likely to make that spot his for a decade once Smith retires, so why not start now?
Steve Smith reached triple figures for NSW this week.Credit: Getty Images
It would also give Green a bit more of a breather if he’s bowling. Beau Webster stays in the team as insurance given there are questions over Green’s potential bowling loads. From seven Tests, Webster has done everything asked of him, averaging 34.63 with the bat.
Mitch Marsh could be a smoky to open the batting but Labuschagne is firming to go up the top, with Green, Smith, Head, and Webster to follow.
Chloe Saltau
Usman Khawaja
Matt Renshaw
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Beau Webster
As doubts persist about Cameron Green’s capacity to bowl a meaningful number of overs, I’m leaving him out of the XI. It’s a tough call. Effectively, I’m picking a specialist opener in Renshaw ahead of him, and rewarding Labuschagne for doing exactly what was asked of him – going back to the Shield and scoring a mountain of runs. Beau Webster has done nothing wrong since coming in as an all-rounder – his bowling adds versatility and balance, and his big mitts are an asset in the field.
But for the first two Tests, there’s just too much upheaval at the top already for Marnus Labuschagne to be shoehorned into opening so Green can fit in at No.3 as well. Renshaw returns as a far more rounded opener than the ‘turtle’ he first answered to during his first stint in the Test side. Consistent runs for Queensland, Australia A and a recent ODI debut complement recent county stints in England where he’s added scoring shots around the wicket, and get him the nod ahead of the impressive Jake Weatherald.
Jon Pierik
Usman Khawaja
Jake Weatherald
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Cameron Green
Usman Khawaja is a lock to retain his spot at the top of the order, but who should be his partner has been a major debate. I am plumping for Tasmanian Jake Weatherald, last season’s leading Sheffield Shield run scorer, who has scores of 67, 57, and 94 among his innings so far this season. His time has arrived. Sam Konstas has not done enough to justify a return.
Marnus Labuschagne has done what the selectors asked and lifted his scoring rate since he was axed from the Test team. He is ready to return in his customary role at No.3. I have Cameron Green at No.6. If he can deliver eight to 10 quality overs a day, it’s best if the all-rounder is given the chance to rest early when Australia are batting.
Dan Walsh
Usman Khawaja
Matt Renshaw
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Beau Webster
If Cameron Green isn’t bowling, and there’s a lot of faith required to see him adding to the four overs he managed before succumbing to side ‘soreness’ earlier this month, then Beau Webster deserves the all-rounder’s gig. He’s been a sure, steady hand with bat, ball, and in the field in much the same vein as a fully fit Green since his Test debut. Pat Cummins’ potential return offers a chance to recalibrate the fifth bowling option according to how Australia’s pacemen are holding up.
Andrew Wu
Marcus Harris
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Beau Webster
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Now that Marnus Labuschagne is piling the runs again, the first thing George Bailey and his selection panel should do at their meeting is to lock in the Queenslander at three, Steve Smith at four, and Travis Head at five. That is an engine room that could win Australia the Ashes. Their next job is to be ruthless with Cameron Green. As great a talent as he is, if he cannot bowl, he does not play. Coming off a prolific county season and a last-start ton, Marcus Harris is my choice to open with Usman Khawaja. Harris has an ability to grind a score in testing conditions but I suspect they’ll opt for a younger player, Matt Renshaw.
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