Warne-Muralitharan Trophy 2019: Preview

Search for Dependable Batsmen

Matt Renshaw has been brought back into the team along with Joe Burns

Australia’s batting woes can be understood with the stark fact that in the recently-concluded series against India, the highest individual score registered by a batsman from the home team was 79. This has led to great concern about the strength and quality of Australia’s batsmen.

As a result, the selectors have decided to take some bold decisions. They have got rid of the mercurial Shaun Marsh after his inconsistency led his team down for the umpteenth time. His brother too has been axed for lack of impact. Peter Handscomb, who has been around for some time, was also dropped from the side.

To fill their places, Will Pucovski, 20-year-old batsmen, has been picked alongside returning players like Matt Renshaw and Joe Burns. Pucovski is a talented player picked from the Sheffield Shield with the hope of him blooming into a successful batsman. The other two players have been tried by Australia in turns to fill the spot left vacant by Chris Roger’s retirement in 2015 – that of the opener alongside David Warner.

Both Renshaw and Burns are openers but with Marcus Harris having shown some ability in the India series, he is most likely to pair Warner when the latter returns from his ban. But the no. 3 spot also seeks an occupant. While Marnus Labushagne may retain that spot after a decent effort against India in the final Test, Renshaw and Burns are more likely to be tried for that position.