Australia’s stunning loss to Bangladesh in the opening Test in Darwin on Sunday has left their former players startled. So much so that the demand for an overhaul of the top-order keeps growing.
Former national selector Mark Waugh has put the onus on their top-order following the nine-wicket loss.
The ICC World Test Championship pace-setters fell to their second loss of the current cycle when they were humbled by Bangladesh at the Marrara Stadium and have little time to lick their wounds ahead of the second and final Test in Mackay that starts on Saturday.
Former batter Waugh suggested something was amiss in the Aussies’ top-order and newcomer Jake Weatherald and veteran No. 3 Marnus Labuschagne were the players under the most pressure to hold on to their spots.
“It’s really about the batting and the top three,” Waugh told . “Okay, we’ll leave Travis Head (opening) there for the moment. I don’t think he’s an opener, but anyway, he’s going to open.
“It’s Jake Weatherald and Marnus Labuschagne. Those guys need runs. There’s no doubt about it.
“I’m just wondering whether the selectors have said to them before this Test: ‘Okay, you’ve got these two Test matches to prove your spot in the team’. I’m concerned about Jake Weatherald. Looking at him, he’s trying to tinker with his technique. I think there are a lot of things going on in his head. He’s making life very difficult for himself and Marnus… We said he batted better in the second innings. But he could have been out earlier a number of times.”
Former opener Matthew Hayden thinks Head could find his best form with a move to No. 3 and that the Aussies should look at including
two new openers for the second Test.
“What I would do is actually put Travis Head at No. 3 and then I would start to look for a refresh and a refit actually at that top of the order,” Hayden said on .
“I want some experience at the top. I want to see (Matt) Renshaw, and I’ve been saying this for at least 12 months, I think he is match fit. I think the selectors knew what he was, but now I want to see what he actually is.”