Despite a nightmare start to the Sheffield Shield season, former Australian Test skipper Steve Waugh believes Cameron Bancroft has the “inside running” to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja in the first Test against India.
Bancroft’s name has been mentioned alongside another experienced head in Marcus Harris, as well as Nathan McSweeney and young gun Sam Konstas.
All-rounder Beau Webster has also been floated as a roughie.
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Speaking on Nine’s Today on Wednesday morning, Waugh said Australia needed experience when taking on India, but admitted it was a “tough” decision.
“I think if you’re fair to the guys that have done the job over the last five or six years, Bancroft, Harris, (Matthew) Renshaw have done what has been asked of them,” he said.
Cameron Bancroft has had a nightmare start to the Sheffield Shield season. Getty
“If you’re looking for a bit of a change, obviously Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney.
“But first Test match, you’ve probably got to go with an experienced opener against I think probably the best bowler in the world, Jasprit Bumrah.
“I think Bancroft at this stage has probably got the inside running.”
Bancroft has had a horror start to the Sheffield Shield season, making just 10 runs across four innings, including a pair against Queensland in the opening round. Michael Neser had him caught behind on both occasions, for a first and third-ball duck.
Two Australia A games against an India A side will effectively be a bat-off between the trio.
Harris has been earmarked to open the batting in both matches, but will have different partners for each – Bancroft in the first match, and Konstas in the second.
Head coach Andrew McDonald told the ABC over the weekend selectors would wait until after the second A match to select the team for the first Test, which gets under way in Perth on November 22.