Australian coach McDonald: David Warner’s replacement could be player with strong white-ball form

Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has indicated that though there are still no firm views of selectors on who will replace David Warner as an opener, but doors are open for batters with a strong white-ball form. David Warner batted in sunglasses during the training in Perth on Sunday as Australia assembled for its final Test series of the year. The 37-year-old wants a Test farewell in Sydney during the third Test against Pakistan and is likely to get it, but McDonald has maintained that just like everyone else, the opener’s spot remains subject to a constant review.

After a centre-wicket session at the WACA Ground, the coach told reporters, “Davey’s playing the first Test match and we’ll go from there,” as reported by cricket.com.au. McDonald emphasised that there isn’t a succession plan in place until Warner’s replacement is required. Due to their inconsistent results in the Shield over the years, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft are the front-runners to replace Warner. Renshaw scored a tonne of runs in a tour match against Pakistan in Canberra.

McDonald stated of the three players, who have each played ten Tests, “We know they can play, they have got good numbers in Shield cricket and I think if we were to go down that path and choose one of them, I think they would do a really good job.” However, a less traditional strategy might be taken into account. Mitchell Marsh will play at number six against Pakistan, replacing all-rounder Cameron Green, who will spend the summer sidelined. Mitchell Marsh replaced Green during this year’s Ashes series. When Warner’s spot opens up, the young all-rounder might take his place. In order to accommodate Green’s return to the middle order, another batter will be promoted to open during this scenario.

Marnus Labuschagne and Marsh have been discussed as potential candidates to move up to the starting lineup. In Test matches, Travis Head faced new balls and opened in white-ball cricket when Warner missed the second half of this year’s Border Gavaskar Trophy. McDonald has emphasised that Australia needs to field its strongest lineup in each game of the World Test Championship. He said that a player’s chances of being an opener in a Test match could be improved by performing well in white-ball cricket. “I think a lot of our white-ball players that continue to play international cricket do not get a lot of Shield cricket, so there is always that ‘are they at mercy of selection because they are not playing a certain format?” he stated.

“You really need to balance and juggle that. It seems to us that you can come from various running lines.”
However, I think the Shield competition is really fierce. It has been very challenging to judge the batting units’ true appearance and potential appearance at the international level due to some challenging wickets we have had this year.” “… the currency is runs and there is some players that have put their hand up there.” “I think we are in good hands and I think the domestic competition prepares them well.”

“Everyone sort of worries about what’s coming up and looks to the future, and someone always raises their hand. After Dave leaves, the most crucial choice is the one that comes next. We don’t need to decide because Dave hasn’t left yet,” McDonald said. Schedule for Pakistan’s tour of Australia: December 6–9, Manuka Oval, Prime Minister’s XI vs. Pakistan XI

First Test: Perth Stadium, December 14–18
Observation 2: December 26–30, MCG
Third Test: SCG, January 3–7

Australia squad: limited to the first Test pat cummins (captain), scott boltand, mitch marsh, Lance Morris, Steve Smith, Mitch Starc, David Warner, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Khawaja, and Nathan Lyon Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr., Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wk), Saud Shakeel, and Shaheen Shah Afridi are the members of the Pakistani squad that include Shan Masood (c).