All options open as Australia debates top order vacancy

SYDNEY : The debate over the vacant slot at the top of the Australia batting order continues to captivate the nation's sports media a month before the opening clash in a blockbuster five-test series against India.

Selection debates have been in short supply in Australia in recent years and while the bowling attack still all but picks itself, a season-ending injury to all-rounder Cameron Green has triggered an outpouring of opinion around the batting.

With Green out of the picture and Steve Smith already confirmed to be moving back down the order to replace him at number four, there is no consensus on who should come into the line-up and open with Usman Khawaja.

Khawaja's erstwhile opening partner David Warner even threw his battered baggy green hat into the ring his week, the 37-year-old offering to come out of his nine-month retirement and ride to his nation's rescue.

Captain Pat Cummins made it clear that the offer would not be taken up and pundits were soon back to parsing the numbers from the oft-ignored domestic Sheffield Shield competition to decide whose red-ball statistics demanded inclusion.

Unfortunately, the handful of experienced contenders have not exactly been battering down the door with a torrent of runs for their states.

Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris have been the most consistent openers at state level in recent years but both have previously been tried out at test level before being discarded.

Matt Renshaw played 10 tests as an opener in 2016-17 but his last opportunity, replacing the injured Green down the order early last year, ended with him being dropped again.

With the experienced contenders stumbling, many have been calling on the selectors to give youth a chance and bring in a fresh face.

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