.Ten months following David Warner's Exam retirement, Australia is nowhere near closer to discovering a replacement.The one selection puzzle before this summer season's Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains the identification of Usman Khawaja's opening up companion, a storyline that controlled the rear webpage of papers final summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Prize, Steve Smith rose to opener to make room for Cameron Green between order, allowing the nation's 6 finest batters to suit the same beginning XI.But 4 Exam suits later, there are actually rumblings of one more change to Australia's hitting purchase ahead of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which receives underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & special to Fox Sports, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your complimentary test today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Eco-friendly have actually each conveyed hesitation when inquired about the possibility of position, while the rear personal injury Eco-friendly experienced in the UK last month generated additional manipulation concerning the Examination side's make-up. The first number of arounds of Sheffield Cover activity, which begins Tuesday, might offer a hint for the national selectors' purposes the condition trains have actually presented they want to readjust their beginning XI to help ready Australia's Examination superstars for the home summer months. If Smith opened the batting for the Blues this month, for instance, it will suggest he is actually a respectable opportunity to experience the brand new ball versus India.Regardless, the dominating conviction is actually that if nationwide selectors don't generate a specialist opener for the Border-Gavaskar Prize, a propitiatory sheep within the staff will definitely require to move up the order to face the new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Picture through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being actually Australia's incumbent Examination opener, it appears more and more unexpected that Steve Smith are going to experience the brand new ball versus India next summer.The New South Welshman enthusiastically pressed his instance to change Warner at the top of the purchase final summertime, which consequently supported Green's return to the Examination edge. Pair of birds, one stone.Smith, who had actually never opened before at excellent level, cracked an unbeaten 91 against the West Indies in the pink-ball Examination at the Gabba, albeit in a shedding trigger. Nonetheless, sceptics remained after the right-hander signed up scores of 31, 0, 11 as well as 9 during the course of the Exam scenic tour of New Zealand, caught LBW in both innings in Christchurch.When questioned about what role he 'd play in the Test edge this summer, Johnson seemed a lot less enthusiastic about the prospect of opening the batting." I'm comfortable batting anywhere," Smith said to Fox Cricket in August." Our company'll observe what that resembles, I intend, whether they want me to continue (opening) or even go back to three or even 4. Our experts'll stand by as well as find." I am actually quite very easy batting anywhere. Our company'll simply find what accumulates as well as what the mind rely on desires." Johnson includes an excellent record at No. 4 in Examinations, building up 5966 perform at 61.50 along with 19 centuries it's why opening up companion Usman Khawaja will prefer to view his former leader return to 2nd trickle his summer months." Opening is an extremely necessary area ... (yet) I still presume we have the most effective Test player of my time in the edge, in Steve Johnson, and his absolute best spot has been actually variety 4," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket final month." I feel like that's his ideal place." Steve Smith of Australia. Photograph through Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian representative Simon Katich, that efficiently transitioned coming from a middle-order batter to a Test opener, believes Johnson is worthy of one more odds at the top of the order." It's still really early in Smith's position career," Katich told the Cricket Et alia podcast final month." He is actually just done it in New Zealand and a couple of Examinations against the West Indies. It can easily require time to adjust. Like any challenge, once you perform it regularly and you get used to it, you create a strategy regarding how you are actually going to tackle it and I assume he is actually possibly still overcoming that." I 'd back him to become capable to beat that difficulty as well as I think he's experienced good enough as well as acceptable to issue address as we all recognize." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe possibility of Marnus Labuschagne opening up the batting in Examinations believes less uneven than various other possibilities given that the transition coming from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, that has actually taken up the No. 3 place in the Test edge for over 5 years, is actually more than with the ability of experiencing the swinging reception, leaving to bat along with Australia however to rack up a work on eight occasions.He has opened the batting 15 times at first-class level with approximately 34.86, marking a century for Glamorgan in the County Champion in Might."( Labuschagne) has actually received the capability to carry out it. For the group too, they'll be actually considering what's the ideal set-up for the edge," previous England batter Ian Bell stated in 2014." He is actually been actually therefore successful, his amounts are actually fabulous, absolutely in Australia as well in the function he plays. There is actually certainly he can do it." Even with a form rut over recent 18 months, Labuschagne has actually been actually Australia's the majority of steady No. 3 Exam batter since Ricky Ponting, averaging 51.78 featuring 11 centuries at first drop.However, his altitude would certainly urge an additional rejig between order with Smith out of placement in the beginning decline moving Labuschagne to opener handles a problem while creating two new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Image through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his current success in the white-ball arena, Head has become a prominent prospect to bat along with Khawaja in the Examination arena this summer months, following in the footsteps of Warner by opening up in all three formats.Shifting the South Australian as much as open up would certainly allow Johnson to come back to his favored No. 4 placement, however nationwide selectors may be reluctant to part means with his counterattacking style in between order." Scalp goes to the cutting edge of that line even though he doesn't actually would like to be actually," Headlines Corp press reporter Robert Craddock informed SEN Whateley last month. "I do not think he sees themself as an opening baseball bat in Test cricket." There is a bit of a pillow if he neglects due to the fact that it wasn't his planning, he never offered services to go certainly there. Thus if he fails, he possesses the motorcyclist of stating, 'Hey, I was going flawlessly alright down the order, by the way'." He is actually the excellent favourite for the setting presently." Head has actually opened up the hitting before at Test level, albeit simply for 3 suits during the course of in 2015's Border-Gavaskar Trophy initiative in India after Warner experienced a possession accident. During a collection where many of Australia's batters strained for uniformity, he scratched 223 runs at 55.75 in 5 knocks, while he's expected to go back to that setting for next year's Examination tour of Sri Lanka.The left-hander admitted he delighted in opening up the batting on India's switching decks in 2015 as it enabled him to resolve into his innings versus the quicks." For me, it is actually everywhere our team line up most ideal as a crew," Head told Fox Cricket when asked about the proposition of opening in Sri Lanka following year." I'm happy where I'm at." It seemed to be to work, being actually a little much more vigorous at the top, it felt like I obtained myself in to the activity, which behaved in those conditions, experiencing swift bowling first." It depends on the group's circumstance ... whatever combination we throw away, it will not have an effect on just how the team manages." Australia's Travis Scalp. Photo through Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have been remaining concerns regarding Head's susceptability to short-pitched bowling, which might be exposed against the brand-new sphere on Australia's rapid decks."( India) will bounce the black out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Perimeter told News Corporation recently." He carries out not participate in the brief round along with a few other. He doesn't duck." Regardless, Khawaja has thrown his help backing Head opening up the batting this summertime, proclaiming he was the best choice in Australia's present starting XI." I feel like Travis Head may be finest suited," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket last month." He is actually obviously been very successful opening up the hitting in one-day cricket and, breaking it down, I 'd possibly lean towards him." The self-confidence transfers over. When you are actually observing the round well, racking up great deals of runs and very little is actually looking at your head, it's a wonderful area to be." Following the 1st ODI versus England at Trent Bridge, Head confirmed he recognized the developing hunch concerning his part in the Test edge." Always keep the babble, it creates it fascinating," Scalp smirked during the post-match press conference." I'm not heading to dive into that. I'll only allow that play out." CAMERON GREENHeading in to the previous Test summer, Eco-friendly was thought about a genuine alternative to change Warner when the veteran opener put up the boots.There had not been any type of area for Environment-friendly in the Test edge's mid order following Mitchell Wetland's remarkable Headingley century throughout the Ashes, but national selectors were eager to locate an openings for the West Australian.And although the suggestion was essentially ditched in favor of Johnson's elevation, maybe taken another look at in advance of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, that has certainly never opened at excellent amount, recently suggested that No. 4 was his recommended position in red-ball cricket, with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 not out versus New Zealand at 2nd reduce previously this year." There is actually no doubt in my mind he can (open)," Watson said to ESPNcricinfo previously the year." Australia needs to receive Cameron Eco-friendly in to the crew and the possibility that you've got right today is for him to open up. They'll just need to endure his bowling, for certain, like with my bowling when I was opening the batting. Yet he absolutely has received the skill, the run-scoring ability and also the understanding to be capable to take advantage of being a position concoction without a doubt. It might take him a game or 2 simply to be capable to work out precisely what his game plan is. However he's undoubtedly obtained the game as well as the way of thinking to make the most of it." Meanwhile, Australia experiences a concerned arrange Eco-friendly's supply for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the all-rounder received a back accident in the United Kingdom last month. Pending the extent of the accident, he may work as an expert batter.Cameron Eco-friendly of Australia. Photograph through Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summertime, Mitchell Marsh performed his absolute best to dismiss concerns about likely opening up the batting in Examinations." Just how perform I address this without creating a heading?" Wetland reflected during the time." For me ... I have actually operated actually tough to come back in this particular edge as well as for me to eagerly anticipate possessing a role as an opener merely doesn't make good sense to me." I adore going to amount 6 as well as in my last 4 Examination matches I've truly found my method and I suspect that I am as a Test cricketer and also I am actually adoring it, so I hesitate to transform that." Marsh's sibling and also papa properly opened the hitting in Examinations, while the West Australian has a nice file when encountering the brand new ball in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Border Medallist has actually been Australia's most regular concoction since he went back to the Test side in 2014, as well as nationwide selectors might hesitate to move him coming from No. 6. In a pillar for the 9 newspapers last summer season, Australian legend Greg Chappell classified Wetland a "powerful" alternative to substitute Detector at the top of the purchase." His explosive batting type, mixed along with an ability to deal with rate, placements him as the most ideal prospect," Chappell wrote at the time." Marsh's effectiveness in attacking down the ground and also executing powerful hooks and reduces is excellent to counter-attack prompt bowling." Former England captain Michael Vaughan also drifted the idea in front of in 2013's Ashes set when Warner was actually under pressure to maintain his spot in the Exam side.Australia's Mitchell Meadow bright. Photograph by Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Wetland has actually never ever batted higher than No. 5 in Sheffield Defense across 95 innings for Western Australia, he participates in prompt bowling along with anybody in the country." In this particular modern game, it's excellent to have an opening batsman who looks to be proactive, seeks to take the video game on," former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast in 2014."( Wetland) picks up span as quick as anyone in this particular Australian team. He is actually faced a lot of quick bowling in the West." When there is actually options I don't mind his title and see how he addresses the best of the purchase." somebody ELSEAustralian train Andrew McDonald has actually suggested it would be actually extremely not likely for a specialist opener to become made in coming from outside the XI, reiterating that the best 6 coming from the New Zealand series would remain for the initial Test versus India." Our experts feel as though that the group that ended up in New Zealand, need to they get a well-maintained run at it and also be well prepped, then they will be actually the best-placed players to load that, there is actually no doubt concerning that," McDonald said to SEN previously this month.However, those comments happened prior to Veggie's return personal injury, which can unlock for a specialist opener to glide right into the Examination side.Matthew Renshaw is actually the incumbent spare batter, having toured New Zealand with the Exam edge previously this year, but the Queenslander might have slipped down the pecking order adhering to an underwhelming summer in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was additionally featured in the Examination squad in 2014, but similarly befalled of favor due to his lacklustre excellent functionalities, while Nic Maddinson has resided in excellent Sheffield Defense form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Photograph through Will Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, should a professional opener be needed to have for the Perth Test against India, home town hero Cameron Bancroft is actually a leading candidate.The West Australian has been in brilliant kind in the Sheffield Guard over the final 24 months, collecting 1728 runs at 54.00 in the course of that period, consisting of 10 hundreds.Bancroft possesses a riches of adventure versus the new ball as well as will be fully equipped to deal with Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and also Mohammad Siraj this summertime." Versus an extra standard Examination match attack like India I would rather choose a traditional opener," Border proceeded." I would certainly get back to Bancroft. I am fulfilling performance." I'm certainly not mosting likely to say I feel sorry for Bancroft, but you may at the same time not bother having a Sheffield Guard competition if you do not award its own leading entertainers.".