First Test Form Guide: The Openers

As we head into the Aussie summer of cricket and the Test series against Pakistan at the Gabba starting tomorrow, we look at our squad’s form in the lead up to the series.

The Australian top order was humiliated in the most recent Ashes series and continues to pose a problem for Australian coach Justin Langer and the board of selectors. All of the opening batsmen looked lost in English conditions but will be looking find form back on home soil.

Despite averaging just 9.5 in the 5-match Ashes series, David Warner gets the nod and will be partnered at the Gabba by Joe Burns who will make his return after being left our of the tour. Cameron Bancroft is the alternative option, selected in the squad ahead of Marcus Harris, but he will be on the sidelines at the Gabba according to Langer.

We all know the struggles David Warner faced on the most recent Ashes tour. It was clear that the opener had no answer for quick Stuart Broad in English conditions but the 33-year-old’s record on home soil and longevity has bought him more time in the Baggy Green.

After arriving home, Warner immediately found Australian pitches more favourable. His return to First Class cricket allowed him to ease into the upcoming summer schedule and the relief was felt as he brought up a century against Queensland in his first Sheffield Shield match. He crashed back to earth with a golden duck in the second innings before making 1 and 15 not-out in the following match against Tasmania.

The T20 series against Sri Lanka was the ideal platform for Warner to release the shackles and showcase his shot making abilities. In uncharacteristic fashion, the opener started cautiously as teammate Aaron Finch came out blazing but worked his way into the innings to help power Australia to a massive total. Warner brought up his century on the final ball of the innings, as the Aussies post 2/233 and belting Sri Lanka by 134 runs.

The knock gave him plenty of confidence and allowed him to bash his way back into form, producing half-centuries in the remaining two T20 matches against Sri Lanka as Australia romped to a 3-nil series victory.

David Warner brings up his 50 for the third time this series!

100*
60*
50*#AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/BjffWz8MvP

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 1, 2019

Warner was also solid in the T20 series against Pakistan. With the first match washed out, the opener scored 20 and 48* in the game two and three with the Aussies easily chasing down Pakistan’s totals and wrapping up the series.

There has plenty of cricket fans calling for Joe Burns to be re-instated in the Australian Test line-up, especially with the disaster at the top of the order throughout the most recent Ashes series in England. Burns scored a massive 180 in his last Test match against Sri Lanka at the start of the year, leaving many baffled after his exclusion from the Ashes tour.

The 30-year-old started the season well for Queensland in the Marsh One Day Cup, scoring back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries at the Gabba against New South Wales and South Australia.

Burns also scored a fifty in the second innings of his first Sheffield Shield match of the season, as well as a couple of starts in both innings against South Australia. He couldn’t continue his Marsh Cup form, with 0 and 1 in consecutive matches but his 76 against Western Australia in the Shield put him in contention for a Test team return.

Since returning from suspension, following his involvement in the infamous ‘sandpaper-gate’ controversy, Cameron Bancroft hasn’t managed to cement himself back in the Australian side.

After being selected in team for the Ashes, the 27-year-old failed to impress with single figure scores in the first Test at Edgbaston, before failing at Lord’s seeing him dropped in favour of Marcus Harris for the rest of the series.

Upon return to domestic cricket, Bancroft notched up three scores in the 70’s for Western Australia in the Marsh One Day Cup, but couldn’t find the same form in the Sheffield Shield. He’s lone hand of 49 as Australia A were demolished by Pakistan in the tour game may have got him over the line for selection in the Test squad but he won’t feature at the Gabba as Australia coach Justin Langer confirmed.

Shane Warne is "surprised" by Cameron Bancroft's Test squad selection. He believes there's a batsman on the sidelines who deserves "another chance". 👉 https://t.co/0VIr7sPrxo pic.twitter.com/WcLBueSIRG

— Fox Cricket (@FoxCricket) November 19, 2019