.10 months observing David Warner's Test retired life, Australia is actually nowhere near closer to finding a replacement.The one selection enigma in front of this summertime's Border-Gavaskar Trophy continues to be the identification of Usman Khawaja's opening partner, a story that controlled the back webpage of papers last summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Prize, Steve Smith rose to opener to make room for Cameron Eco-friendly in between purchase, enabling the nation's six ideal batters to suit the same starting XI.But 4 Test matches later on, there are rumblings of another modification to Australia's hitting purchase in advance of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which receives underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & exclusive to Fox Athletics, offered on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free of cost trial today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Meadow Bright as well as Environment-friendly have actually each revealed hesitation when asked about the prospect of position, while the rear accident Environment-friendly suffered in the UK final month developed additional intrigue regarding the Exam side's cosmetics. The first couple of arounds of Sheffield Defense activity, which begins Tuesday, could provide an idea for the national selectors' intents the condition instructors have actually shown they're willing to change their starting XI to help prep Australia's Exam celebrities for the home summer months. If Johnson opened the batting for cry this month, for instance, it would advise he's a suitable odds to experience the brand new ball versus India.Regardless, the prevailing feeling is that if national selectors do not introduce a specialist opener for the Border-Gavaskar Prize, a propitiatory sheep within the crew will need to move up the purchase to deal with the brand-new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Picture by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being Australia's necessary Examination opener, it appears considerably not likely that Steve Johnson are going to deal with the brand-new sphere versus India next summer.The New South Welshman enthusiastically drove his situation to change Warner on top of the order last summer months, which in turn satisfied Eco-friendly's return to the Examination side. Pair of birds, one stone.Smith, who had actually certainly never opened before at first-rate degree, bashed an unbeaten 91 against the West Indies in the pink-ball Examination at the Gabba, albeit in a losing reason. Nonetheless, sceptics stayed after the right-hander registered credit ratings of 31, 0, 11 and also 9 throughout the Test trip of New Zealand, entraped LBW in each innings in Christchurch.When questioned about what task he 'd play in the Exam edge this summer season, Johnson seemed to be less passionate regarding the possibility of opening the batting." I'm comfortable hitting everywhere," Smith informed Fox Cricket in August." Our experts'll observe what that resembles, I expect, whether they want me to proceed (opening) or get back to 3 or even four. We'll wait as well as find." I'm rather very easy hitting anywhere. Our experts'll simply find what stacks up and also what the human brain rely on wishes." Smith flaunts a superb file at No. 4 in Exams, gathering 5966 go for 61.50 with 19 centuries it's why opening companion Usman Khawaja would prefer to find his previous leader come back to 2nd drop his summer months." Position is a quite necessary spot ... (however) I still assume our company possess the best Test player of my age in the side, in Steve Johnson, and his ideal place has been actually number 4," Khawaja told Fox Cricket final month." I seem like that's his finest spot." Steve Smith of Australia. Photograph through Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian depictive Simon Katich, who effectively transitioned coming from a middle-order batter to an Examination opener, feels Johnson is entitled to yet another opportunity at the top of the order." It is actually still incredibly early in Johnson's opening profession," Katich said to the Cricket Et Al podcast final month." He's just done it in New Zealand as well as a couple of Examinations versus the West Indies. It can require time to adjust. Like any problem, as soon as you perform it more frequently as well as you acquire utilized to it, you create a game plan regarding just how you're mosting likely to tackle it and I think he is actually possibly still overcoming that." I would certainly back him to be able to get over that obstacle and also I presume he is actually experienced good enough and adequate to trouble deal with as we all understand." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe prospect of Marnus Labuschagne opening up the hitting in Tests believes much less uneven than other alternatives since the switch coming from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, who has occupied the No. 3 spot in the Exam side for over 5 years, is much more than capable of encountering the swinging ball, going out to baseball bat with Australia however to score an operate on 8 occasions.He has actually opened up the batting 15 times at first-rate level with approximately 34.86, marking a century for Glamorgan in the Region Champion in May."( Labuschagne) has obtained the capability to do it. For the group too, they'll be actually considering what is actually the appropriate set up for the edge," past England concoction Ian Bell pointed out last year." He is actually been thus successful, his varieties are actually incredible, absolutely in Australia also in the part he participates in. There is actually no question he can perform it." Even with a type downturn over the past 18 months, Labuschagne has been actually Australia's most constant No. 3 Test concoction because Ricky Ponting, balancing 51.78 featuring 11 centuries in the beginning drop.However, his elevation would urge yet another rejig in the middle purchase with Smith out of setting initially decrease moving Labuschagne to opener deals with a complication while making 2 new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photograph through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his current success in the white-ball arena, Crown has actually emerged as a leading prospect to baseball bat alongside Khawaja in the Exam field this summer, complying with in the footprints of Warner through opening up in all three formats.Shifting the South Australian as much as open would permit Johnson to go back to his preferred No. 4 position, however national selectors might hesitate to component techniques along with his counterattacking style in between purchase." Scalp goes to the front line of that queue although he does not really would like to be," Headlines Corporation reporter Robert Craddock informed SEN Whateley final month. "I do not presume he sees himself as a position bat in Exam cricket." There is a little bit of a padding if he neglects since it had not been his program, he never volunteered to go there. Therefore if he fails, he possesses the motorcyclist of saying, 'Hey, I was actually going flawlessly great down the order, by the way'." He is actually the outstanding favourite for the position at the moment." Head has actually opened the batting just before at Examination degree, albeit simply for three matches in the course of in 2014's Border-Gavaskar Prize project in India after Warner went through a finger injury. Throughout a set where the majority of Australia's concoctions strained for uniformity, he marked 223 runs at 55.75 in 5 knocks, while he's expected to go back to that position for upcoming year's Test trip of Sri Lanka.The left-hander admitted he appreciated opening the hitting on India's turning decks in 2015 as it allowed him to resolve right into his innings versus the quicks." For me, it is actually wherever we line up most effectively as a group," Scalp said to Fox Cricket when asked about the recommendation of position in Sri Lanka upcoming year." I more than happy where I'm at." It appeared to function, being actually a bit even more assertive at the top, it believed that I obtained on my own into the video game, which behaved in those disorders, encountering fast bowling to begin with." It relies on the team's situation ... whatever blend our company toss out, it will not influence exactly how the staff manages." Australia's Travis Head. Picture by Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have actually been hanging around problems regarding Head's susceptibility to short-pitched bowling, which may be bared against the brand new sphere on Australia's prompt decks."( India) is going to jump the crap out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Border told Headlines Corporation recently." He performs certainly not play the short sphere as well as some others. He doesn't duck." No matter, Khawaja has tossed his help backing Head opening the batting this summer season, declaring he was actually the most ideal alternative in Australia's existing starting XI." I believe that Travis Head may be finest fit," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket final month." He is actually certainly been best-selling opening up the hitting in one-day cricket and also, breaking it down, I will most likely pitch in the direction of him." The self-confidence transmissions over. When you are actually finding the round effectively, scoring great deals of runs and not much is actually experiencing your head, it is actually an excellent place to be." Complying with the initial ODI versus England at Trent Bridge, Head confirmed he recognized the developing hunch concerning his function in the Test edge." Always keep the chatter, it produces it exciting," Scalp smirked during the post-match interview." I am actually certainly not visiting study that. I'll only let that play out." CAMERON GREENHeading right into the previous Test summer season, Environment-friendly was actually thought about a real possibility to switch out Warner when the pro opener put up the boots.There had not been any kind of area for Environment-friendly in the Test edge's mid order following Mitchell Wetland's outstanding Headingley century in the course of the Ashes, however national selectors aspired to find a job for the West Australian.And although the suggestion was actually ultimately broken up in favour of Smith's elevation, it could be taken another look at ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, that has actually never ever opened up at first-class degree, earlier signified that No. 4 was his ideal location in red-ball cricket, along with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 not out versus New Zealand at 2nd decrease previously this year." There is actually no doubt in my thoughts he can (open)," Watson told ESPNcricinfo earlier the year." Australia needs to obtain Cameron Environment-friendly right into the group and also the chance that you've got right now is for him to open. They'll only need to manage his bowling, without a doubt, like along with my bowling when I levelled the batting. But he completely has actually obtained the skill, the run-scoring capacity and the understanding to be able to make the most of being a position concoction for certain. It might take him a game or two merely to be capable to exercise precisely what his tactical plan is actually. But he is actually certainly acquired the activity as well as the mindset to take advantage of it." In the meantime, Australia encounters a tense wait on Eco-friendly's schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the all-rounder endured a back injury in the United Kingdom final month. Hanging the severity of the injury, he may work as an expert batter.Cameron Veggie of Australia. Photograph by Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summer, Mitchell Meadow bright did his ideal to brush aside concerns concerning likely opening up the batting in Exams." Exactly how perform I address this without bring in a title?" Marsh deliberated at the moment." For me ... I've operated truly difficult to get back in this side as well as for me to await having a part as an opener only does not make sense to me." I love going to amount six and in my final 4 Test matches I've definitely found my way and also I reckon that I am as a Test cricketer as well as I'm liking it, so I hesitate to alter that." Marsh's bro and also dad efficiently opened up the batting in Tests, while the West Australian possesses a decent record when facing the brand new reception in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Boundary Medallist has actually been actually Australia's a lot of regular concoction because he went back to the Test side in 2015, and also nationwide selectors may be reluctant to move him coming from No. 6. In a pillar for the Nine papers final summer, Australian legend Greg Chappell classified Marsh a "engaging" possibility to switch out Detector on top of the order." His eruptive batting design, integrated along with an ability to deal with rate, positions him as the most effective candidate," Chappell composed at that time." Marsh's skills in hitting down the ground and also carrying out highly effective hooks and cuts is actually suitable to counter-attack quick bowling." Former England captain Michael Vaughan also drifted the idea in advance of in 2014's Ashes collection when Warner was under the gun to keep his spot in the Test side.Australia's Mitchell Meadow bright. Picture through Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Wetland has actually certainly never baseball batted more than No. 5 in Sheffield Shield across 95 innings for Western Australia, he plays fast bowling and also any person in the country." In this modern game, it's good to possess an opening batsman that seems practical, seeks to take the activity on," previous Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast last year."( Wetland) picks up span as simple as any person in this Australian team. He's encountered a bunch of rapid bowling in the West." When there is actually options I don't mind his title as well as view exactly how he goes at the leading of the order." an individual ELSEAustralian instructor Andrew McDonald has actually suggested it will be actually very unexpected for a professional opener to become made in coming from outside the XI, stating that the top 6 from the New Zealand set would certainly stay for the 1st Exam against India." Our experts think as though that the crew that finished in New Zealand, should they receive a clean go for it and be actually effectively readied, after that they would be actually the best-placed gamers to pack that, there's no doubt about that," McDonald informed SEN earlier this month.However, those comments came just before Green's return injury, which could unlock for an expert opener to move into the Examination side.Matthew Renshaw is actually the incumbent extra concoction, having visited New Zealand with the Exam side previously this year, but the Queenslander might have slid down the pecking order adhering to an underwhelming summertime in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was actually likewise featured in the Test team in 2013, but in a similar way befalled of favor as a result of his lacklustre first-rate performances, while Nic Maddinson has actually remained in remarkable Sheffield Shield form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Picture by Will Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, must a specialist opener be required for the Perth Examination against India, hometown hero Cameron Bancroft is a leading candidate.The West Australian has actually resided in brilliant form in the Sheffield Defense over the last 24 months, assembling 1728 runs at 54.00 during that time frame, featuring 10 hundreds.Bancroft has a riches of knowledge against the new reception and would be actually well-equipped to manage Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and also Mohammad Siraj this summer." Versus a more traditional Exam match attack like India I would rather pick a conventional opener," Perimeter carried on." I will get back to Bancroft. I am worthwhile functionality." I am actually certainly not mosting likely to say I feel sorry for Bancroft, however you might as well certainly not bother having a Sheffield Cover competitors if you don't reward its own leading entertainers.".