Australia are gearing up for a five-match Test series against India at home. The Aussies would be determined to go for a win under captain Pat Cummins especially since the Indian team has emerged victorious on their previous two tours. However, this time around too they have quite a few concerns but none perhaps bigger than identifying an opening partner for Usman Khawaja.
Since the retirement of David Warner, Australia tried Steven Smith at the opening slot and is likely to continue even though his returns hasn’t been encouraging as an opener. Travis Head is another option being considered. Even though Head plays at the number 5 position in Tests, he has been extremely successful as an opener in white-ball cricket.
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Test Cricket Is An Entirely Different Proposition: Ian Chappell
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell, however, has warned Australia making it clear that opening in Test cricket is a dfferent ball game altogether than opening in limited-overs fixtures.
“Head opening in Test cricket is based on his unbridled success facing the new ball in both 50-over and T20 cricket. There’s no doubt Head, with his ultra-aggressive style, is the ideal player to open in the two short forms of the game. However, Test cricket is an entirely different proposition,” Chappell wrote in his column on ESPNCricinfo.
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“The fielding side employing extra catching fielders and being able to unleash a preferred bowler for longer periods makes opening much tougher in Test cricket,” he said.
“Any move to open with Head that is designed to unsettle Jasprit Bumrah is asking a lot of the batter. Bumrah, and to a lesser extent Mohammad Siraj, are unlikely to be battered into altering their attacking mentality,” said Chappell.
India and Australia will square off in the first Test of the series in Perth beginning on November 22.