Matthew Hayden, former opening batsman for Australia, does not believe that Steve Smith’s shift up the order will help the team much. With David Warner’s retirement, the reigning Test champions are looking for a new opener and have a few alluring alternatives.
Australia’s home series against the West Indies is set to kick off on January 17, so the selectors will need to make a decision quickly. The Men in Yellow have been finding a way to include Cameron Green in the playing XI along with Mitchell Marsh.
It should be mentioned that in Test cricket, Smith has never opened the batting. Though he has generally played in the middle order for the majority of his career, he has occasionally walked up to bat early when he was positioned at No. 3.
It certainly doesn’t sound like the way Pat Cummins will go– Matthew Hayden on Smith opening in the test cricket
If Smith moves up to the top of the order, Green may bat at No. 4, which is his normal position on the domestic circuit. Hayden said that the administration of the Australian cricket team will not proceed in that manner. It seems very different from how Pat will proceed.
Matthew Hayden told the Sydney Morning Herald :
“It’s just not going to happen in my opinion. He’s commanded so much respect in the game that we should all listen to what he has to say, but I equally think that’s not the way the Australian cricket team management will go. It certainly doesn’t sound like the way Pat will go,” Matthew Hayden told the Sydney Morning Herald.”
I just can’t see how strategically that is going to work for Cricket Australia- Matthew Hayden
Matthew Hayden highlighted that this test team’s performance over the past two years can be attributed to a very strong foundation. He added that for Cricket Australia, having numbers one to four etched in stone has been invaluable and it’s been such crucial framework.
“I just can’t see how strategically that [Smith opening] is going to work for Cricket Australia. They will need someone more concrete than that. When you look at the success over the last two years of this Test team, it’s been based on a very solid foundation. It’s been such a key structure – that number one to four set in stone has been gold for Cricket Australia,” Matthew Hayden elaborated.
I feel like a left-handed opener in Renshaw is that person with age on his side – Matthew Hayden
In Matthew Hayden’s opinion, Australia ought to replace Warner with an authorized opening batsman from the domestic circuit. Matt Renshaw, rather than Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft, would be the best option to open the batting with Usman Khawaja, according to the former opening batsman.
“David Warner has had his say in Marcus Harris and Ricky Ponting has had his say on record with [Cameron] Bancroft. I feel like a left-handed opener in Renshaw is that person with age on his side,” he said.
“He maybe doesn’t have the performances of Bancroft at first-class cricket but in many ways, I just feel like he has shown what he can potentially do, and he has that longevity,” he reflected.
Renshaw has made 14 Test matches for Australia so far, averaging 29.32 and amassing 645 runs. During the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the subcontinent, which happens to be his last series of Test matches, he batted in the middle order.
“With a banker like Khawaja, given the form, maybe it’s time to look to the future and groom that individual. It’s a gut feel more than anything. Bancroft and Harris are a little older, and you could argue a little wiser but Renshaw gives you that youthful edge, and soon you’re going to have two new openers. I’d prefer to have one of them blooded now,” he concluded.