.Ten months observing David Warner's Exam retirement, Australia is nowhere near closer to locating a replacement.The one variety enigma before this summer season's Border-Gavaskar Prize stays the identity of Usman Khawaja's opening companion, a storyline that dominated the rear page of newspapers last summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Trophy, Steve Johnson rose to opener to include Cameron Green between purchase, permitting the nation's 6 best batters to suit the same starting XI.But four Test suits later, there are rumblings of an additional modification to Australia's batting order ahead of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which gets underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & exclusive to Fox Sports, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Beginning your free trial today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Environment-friendly have each revealed hesitation when asked them about the possibility of position, while the back accident Eco-friendly sustained in the UK final month produced more plan concerning the Exam edge's cosmetics. The 1st couple of rounds of Sheffield Cover activity, which starts Tuesday, could provide an idea for the nationwide selectors' goals the state coaches have shown they want to change their beginning XI to help prep Australia's Examination stars for the home summer. If Smith opened up the batting for the Blues this month, as an example, it would suggest he is actually a decent possibility to deal with the new round versus India.Regardless, the prevailing feeling is that if national selectors don't produce a professional opener for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a sacrificial lamb within the crew are going to need to have to glide up the purchase to deal with the brand new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Photograph by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being Australia's necessary Examination opener, it appears considerably unlikely that Steve Johnson will certainly encounter the brand-new round against India next summer.The New South Welshman readily drove his instance to substitute Detector on top of the order final summer months, which subsequently served Veggie's come back to the Exam edge. Pair of birds, one stone.Smith, that had actually never ever opened before at superior degree, clipped an unbeaten 91 versus the West Indies in the pink-ball Examination at the Gabba, albeit in a losing trigger. Nevertheless, sceptics remained after the right-hander enrolled ratings of 31, 0, 11 as well as 9 during the course of the Examination tour of New Zealand, entraped LBW in each innings in Christchurch.When examined regarding what job he would certainly play in the Exam side this summertime, Smith appeared less passionate regarding the possibility of opening up the batting." I fit batting wherever," Smith said to Fox Cricket in August." We'll see what that seems like, I suppose, whether they desire me to carry on (position) or get back to 3 or even 4. Our experts'll hang around as well as view." I'm fairly effortless batting anywhere. We'll just view what stacks up and also what the mind leave wishes." Smith boasts an outstanding record at No. 4 in Examinations, collecting 5966 perform at 61.50 with 19 centuries it's why opening companion Usman Khawaja will choose to find his past captain return to second trickle his summer months." Opening is a really important spot ... (yet) I still assume our experts have the most effective Test player of my age in the edge, in Steve Johnson, and his finest area has been actually amount 4," Khawaja said to Fox Cricket final month." I believe that that's his ideal place." Steve Smith of Australia. Photo through Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian representative Simon Katich, that efficiently transitioned from a middle-order batter to an Examination opener, feels Johnson is worthy of yet another possibility on top of the order." It is actually still quite early in Smith's opening profession," Katich informed the Cricket Et Al podcast final month." He's only done it in New Zealand and also a couple of Tests against the West Indies. It can take some time to adjust. Like any difficulty, once you do it often and you obtain utilized to it, you create a tactical plan as to how you're visiting tackle it as well as I think he is actually probably still working through that." I 'd back him to be able to overcome that difficulty as well as I think he is actually experienced good enough and also satisfactory to trouble resolve as most of us know." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe possibility of Marnus Labuschagne opening the batting in Examinations experiences much less uneven than various other alternatives since the switch from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, who has occupied the No. 3 location in the Examination edge for over 5 years, is actually much more than efficient in experiencing the swaying ball, leaving to bat with Australia yet to score a run on 8 occasions.He has opened the batting 15 opportunities at top-notch confess an average of 34.86, scratching a century for Glamorgan in the County Championship in Might."( Labuschagne) has got the capability to accomplish it. For the team as well, they'll be actually considering what is actually the right start-up for the side," past England batter Ian Bell stated in 2014." He is actually been so successful, his amounts are actually fabulous, surely in Australia at the same time in the role he participates in. There's no doubt he could do it." In spite of a kind slump over the past 18 months, Labuschagne has actually been actually Australia's most steady No. 3 Examination concoction because Ricky Ponting, averaging 51.78 featuring 11 centuries initially drop.However, his elevation would prompt one more rejig in the center purchase along with Smith out of setting in the beginning decline moving Labuschagne to opener handles a concern while developing pair of new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photograph by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his current effectiveness in the white-ball arena, Crown has become a prominent applicant to baseball bat together with Khawaja in the Test field this summer season, following in the footprints of Detector through opening up with all three formats.Shifting the South Australian up to open up would certainly enable Smith to come back to his preferred No. 4 posture, yet nationwide selectors may hesitate to part methods along with his counterattacking style in between order." Scalp is at the front line of that line up although he does not really want to be actually," News Corp reporter Robert Craddock informed SEN Whateley last month. "I don't believe he finds themself as an opening bat in Examination cricket." There is actually a bit of a cushion if he neglects considering that it had not been his planning, he certainly never volunteered to go there. So if he stops working, he has the biker of pointing out, 'Hey, I was actually going completely alright down the purchase, incidentally'." He is actually the excellent favourite for the posture currently." Head has opened up the batting before at Examination level, albeit simply for 3 matches throughout in 2013's Border-Gavaskar Trophy project in India after Warner endured a finger personal injury. During a collection where many of Australia's concoctions had a hard time for congruity, he scratched 223 runs at 55.75 in five knocks, while he is actually expected to return to that setting for upcoming year's Test excursion of Sri Lanka.The left-hander confessed he took pleasure in opening the batting on India's switching decks in 2014 as it allowed him to settle in to his innings versus the quicks." For me, it's any place we line up better as a crew," Scalp informed Fox Cricket when asked about the suggestion of opening in Sri Lanka upcoming year." I enjoy where I'm at." It seemed to be to work, being a little much more vigorous on top, it believed that I received on my own into the activity, which was nice in those problems, experiencing rapid bowling initially." It depends on the group's situation ... whatever combination our team toss out, it will not impact how the group manages." Australia's Travis Head. Photograph through Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have been actually staying issues regarding Scalp's susceptibility to short-pitched bowling, which can be bared versus the new sphere on Australia's fast decks."( India) will hop the black out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Perimeter informed Information Corp recently." He does not participate in the quick sphere along with some others. He doesn't duck." Regardless, Khawaja has actually thrown his assistance backing Head opening up the hitting this summer, proclaiming he was the very best choice in Australia's present starting XI." I feel like Travis Head may be greatest fit," Khawaja told Fox Cricket last month." He's obviously been best-selling opening up the hitting in one-day cricket and also, simplifying, I 'd probably pitch towards him." The self-confidence transfers over. When you're observing the round properly, scoring bunches of operates and very little is actually looking at your head, it's a wonderful location to be." Following the first ODI versus England at Trent Bridge, Crown validated he understood the brewing conjecture regarding his function in the Test edge." Keep the chatter, it makes it exciting," Scalp smirked during the post-match interview." I'm not visiting study that. I'll simply let that participate in out." CAMERON GREENHeading in to the previous Exam summertime, Veggie was actually thought about a real option to substitute Detector when the expert opener disconnected the boots.There wasn't any kind of room for Eco-friendly in the Exam edge's mid purchase adhering to Mitchell Meadow bright's exceptional Headingley century in the course of the Ashes, however nationwide selectors were eager to locate a job for the West Australian.And although the idea was actually eventually ditched in favor of Smith's elevation, maybe revisited ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, that has actually certainly never opened at superior level, earlier suggested that No. 4 was his ideal ranking in red-ball cricket, along with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 certainly not out versus New Zealand at second drop previously this year." There's no question in my thoughts he can (open)," Watson said to ESPNcricinfo previously the year." Australia requires to obtain Cameron Environment-friendly right into the crew and also the possibility that you have actually solved today is for him to open. They'll only need to handle his bowling, without a doubt, like along with my bowling when I was opening the batting. Yet he absolutely has actually got the skill, the run-scoring ability and also the understanding to become able to take advantage of being actually a position batter for sure. It may take him an activity or two simply to become able to exercise specifically what his strategy is. But he is actually undoubtedly got the game and the mentality to make the most of it." Meanwhile, Australia deals with a tense wait on Eco-friendly's supply for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the all-rounder experienced a back accident in the United Kingdom final month. Hanging the severeness of the accident, he may serve as a specialist batter.Cameron Eco-friendly of Australia. Photograph by Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summer months, Mitchell Wetland did his absolute best to brush aside questions concerning likely opening up the batting in Examinations." How perform I answer this without making a heading?" Wetland speculated during the time." For me ... I've worked actually hard to get back within this edge and for me to look forward to possessing a part as an opener only does not make sense to me." I enjoy being at number 6 and also in my final four Exam suits I have actually definitely located my means and also I suppose who I am as an Exam cricketer and also I am actually liking it, so I hesitate to change that." Meadow bright's bro and also dad efficiently opened up the batting in Tests, while the West Australian has a respectable report when experiencing the brand new reception in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Perimeter Medallist has actually been actually Australia's most steady concoction since he returned to the Exam side in 2015, as well as national selectors might hesitate to move him from No. 6. In a column for the 9 newspapers final summertime, Australian legend Greg Chappell identified Wetland a "convincing" choice to replace Detector on top of the purchase." His explosive batting design, blended along with a capacity to take care of rate, positions him as the best prospect," Chappell created back then." Wetland's skills in attacking down the ground and carrying out strong hooks and also cuts is actually ideal to counter-attack rapid bowling." Former England captain Michael Vaughan also floated the idea ahead of in 2013's Ashes collection when Detector was actually under pressure to maintain his location in the Test side.Australia's Mitchell Meadow bright. Picture through Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Marsh has never batted higher than No. 5 in Sheffield Guard across 95 innings for Western Australia, he participates in swift bowling and also anyone in the nation." Within this contemporary game, it's really good to have a position batsman who seems positive, looks to take the game on," former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pointed out on the Willow Talk podcast last year."( Wetland) grabs length as fast as anyone in this particular Australian group. He is actually dealt with a ton of fast bowling in the West." When there is actually chances I don't mind his name and observe how he addresses the top of the purchase." somebody ELSEAustralian instructor Andrew McDonald has hinted it would certainly be extremely extremely unlikely for a professional opener to become composed in from outside the XI, saying again that the best 6 from the New Zealand series will stay for the initial Examination versus India." We experience as though that the group that ended up in New Zealand, must they get a well-maintained run at it and also be effectively prepped, then they will be actually the best-placed players to fill up that, there's certainly concerning that," McDonald told SEN previously this month.However, those comments came before Veggie's back accident, which could unlock for a specialist opener to slide in to the Test side.Matthew Renshaw is the incumbent extra batter, having toured New Zealand with the Examination side earlier this year, however the Queenslander may have slid down the pecking order observing an underwhelming summer in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was actually likewise featured in the Examination team last year, yet similarly befalled of favor as a result of his drab top-notch functionalities, while Nic Maddinson has actually remained in remarkable Sheffield Guard form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Picture by Will Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, need to an expert opener be required for the Perth Test versus India, home town hero Cameron Bancroft is actually a leading candidate.The West Australian has been in scintillating kind in the Sheffield Cover over the final 24 months, assembling 1728 runs at 54.00 in the course of that time period, featuring ten hundreds.Bancroft possesses a riches of adventure against the brand-new reception and would certainly be fully equipped to take care of Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah as well as Mohammad Siraj this summer." Versus an extra typical Exam suit assault like India I would rather pick a traditional opener," Border continued." I would return to Bancroft. I am actually satisfying performance." I am actually certainly not going to state I sympathize with Bancroft, but you may as well certainly not worry about having a Sheffield Shield competitors if you don't award its leading artists.".