Andrew McDonald drops huge hint ahead of David Warner Test retirement
Australia are seeking to fill the hole at the top of the order when David Warner retires.
Aussie cricket Andrew McDonald has hinted dropped allrounder Cameron Green could be in for a shock move up the order after David Warner's retirement. Warner is set to retire this summer after a stellar career as opener for Australia.
The opener has played 109 Tests for Australia with the swashbuckling batter's debut coming back in 2011. With three more Tests left, Warner will hand over the opening role that he has occupied for more than 12 years.
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There has been plenty of speculation over who will fill in the void next to Usman Khawaja at the top of the order. Khawaja is also coming towards the end of his career with the 36-year-old recently stating he wants to play on for as long as possible.
Marcus Harris was taken to the UK for the Ashes but hasn't impressed at the top of the order for Australia since his return. Cameron Bancroft's form has tapered off in the last month in Sheffield Shield cricket. Marcus Renshaw is also a candidate.
However, coach McDonald could turn to within the squad to fill the gap next to Khawaja. Green was recently dropped from the Test team during the Ashes for Mitch Marsh.
The Western Australian allrounder returned with a century for Australia and maintained his position in the team as the allrounder for the remainder of the series. Marsh then helped Australia win the One Day International World Cup in India.
The 24-year-old Green has found himself on the outer as he struggles for form and confidence with the bat. But, McDonald believes the towering allrounder could bat as No.4, or potentially the opener, for the team in the West Indies series.
Green plays his first game for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield in two years this week. He is returning to pick up some form ahead of the Test summer and McDonald has hinted there could be a reshuffle of the Australian order.
“What does Cam Green’s future look like in the Test team? Is it a matter of waiting for Mitch to finish or could there be another spot that opens up over time?” McDonald told SEN Radio. “He has batted at six for most of his Test cricket, but he has been a fantastic No.4 for WA and averages close to 50 in Shield cricket. There is always the idea that you can potentially shift the order to make room to put your best six batters, or what you see as best six batters, in a certain order, and we have seen that in Australian cricket before.
“David Boon went from three to opening. Justin Langer went from three to opening. Shane Watson went from six to opening. So there has been the ability to reshuffle and for that to be successful. But we will leave that to the first Test match in Perth.”
Pat Cummins hits back at reports question
Captain Pat Cummins has returned home from India ahead of the Pakistan series in the summer. And when asked about whether there would be rotation between the bowlers after such a long World Cup campaign, Cummins shut the idea down.
“You’re always dealing with something as a bowler. When your hamstring starts to feel good, you suddenly feel pain somewhere else in your body and then you wake up the next day and it’s moved somewhere else in your body,” Cummins said at the press conference. “Realistically, the words ‘rested’ and ‘rotated’ gets thrown around a lot, but you never miss a Test if you’re fully fit.
“While the last couple of years we might have been rested for the odd game, the bulk of work that we’ve been able to do (has helped). Potentially (it may happen), but if we’re fully fit, then we won’t be rested.”
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