Australia’s opening partnership remains unresolved just weeks before their World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s. Since David Warner’s retirement in January 2024, Usman Khawaja has had four different opening partners in 11 matches, and it’s still unclear who will join him at the top of the order for the crucial clash in mid-June.
In an announcement on Tuesday, head selector George Bailey addressed the situation, suggesting that opening the batting is a role that more players could fill than traditionally thought. “There is a prevailing thought that it’s a specialized role, but I think in certain conditions, there are opportunities where other guys could do it,” Bailey explained.
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Khawaja’s recent partners include Steve Smith, who has since been moved down the batting order, and Nathan McSweeney, who has been dropped. Travis Head and teenager Sam Konstas are still in contention after being named in the squad. While Head has excelled in the middle order in English conditions, Konstas impressed with a stunning debut against India last year, though he was dropped for the Sri Lanka tour.
Bailey also mentioned all-rounder Cameron Green’s return to the squad after back surgery, though initially only as a batsman. To accommodate Green, Marnus Labuschagne’s name has been floated as a potential opener. “I think Marnus could open the batting,” Bailey said, although he emphasized that nothing was confirmed yet.
Australia will face South Africa in the World Test Championship final from June 11 to 15 at Lord’s before heading to the West Indies for a three-test series in June and July.
