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Cricket: Openers battle for Australia role

Australia have signalled an end to the experiment of using Steve Smith as an opening batter in Test cricket, leaving them with decisions to make for the upcoming five-match series at home to India.

Smith had been used at the top of the order for two home Tests against West Indies and then the two-match series in New Zealand, with the Baggy Greens hierarchy initially indicating that it was part of a long-term plan following the retirement of David Warner.

However, Smith has now made it known that he would like to drop back down the order, especially given that Cameron Green has been ruled out for the whole of the summer by renewed back problems.

Smith experiment comes to an end

Smith has made his name as one of the best-ever middle-order batters for Australia, but moving up to open was something of a failure as he passed 50 just one in eight innings.

That has now prompted a rethink, with selector George Bailey confirming: "I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position. We've got a No.4 spot to fill and an opening spot to fill."

Just who will open alongside veteran left-hander Usman Khawaja has yet to be decided, but selection for an Australia A side to take on their India counterparts appears to offer some strong clues.

With two four-day games coming up, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and New South Wales teenager Sam Konstas have been named in a 17-man squad and are presumably the leading candidates for the Test opener's spot.

Harris, who has played in 14 Tests without much success, made a statement by racking up 143 and 52 for Victoria in their Sheffield Shield opener against Tasmania.

Western Australia right-hander Bancroft enjoyed very different fortunes as he registered a pair against Queensland, although Bailey was quick to make it known that that double failure will not hold too much sway.

NSW youngster Konstas is the most interesting selection, with the 19-year-old having shown promise last season before beginning the new campaign with a bang, making 152 and 105 against South Australia.

Other batters have also been mentioned by Bailey as possible call-ups, as he named opener Matt Renshaw and middle-order options Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddinson.

Marsh eases fears over bowling balance

With Green sidelined for the whole summer, the main focus on all-round options has switched to Mitchell Marsh, whose bowling has been severely limited in recent times due to a hamstring problem.

However, recent reports suggest that Marsh is going well at the moment, meaning he could fit in at six in the batting order and offer back-up to the world-class quartet of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon.

Should Marsh be unable to bowl, then the selectors may have to look elsewhere, with the five-match series against India representing a tightly packed schedule.

Leading candidates to take the place of Marsh are Beau Webster and Aaron Hardie, although the latter is more of a bowling all-rounder at this stage of his career, despite having three first-class centuries to his name.

Webster is a very interesting prospect, having totalled 938 runs at an average of 58.62 and 30 wickets at 29.30 in the Sheffield Shield last season.

He also bowls a mixture of seam and spin which could appeal to allow for the different surfaces on offer across the Test clashes with India, with the series beginning in Perth on November 22nd.

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