.10 months observing David Warner's Exam retirement, Australia is no place near closer to locating a replacement.The one choice puzzle before this summertime's Border-Gavaskar Prize remains the identification of Usman Khawaja's opening companion, a story that controlled the back web page of newspapers last summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Trophy, Steve Smith rose to opener to make room for Cameron Eco-friendly in the middle order, enabling the country's 6 best batters to match the very same beginning XI.But 4 Test matches later on, there are rumblings of yet another change to Australia's batting purchase in front of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Prize, which acquires underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & special to Fox Sports, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your cost-free test today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Meadow Bright and Environment-friendly have each shared unwillingness when inquired about the possibility of opening, while the back trauma Eco-friendly received in the UK final month generated additional manipulation concerning the Examination edge's make-up. The initial number of spheres of Sheffield Defense action, which starts Tuesday, could provide an idea for the nationwide selectors' objectives the state coaches have actually presented they want to adjust their beginning XI to aid ready Australia's Test celebrities for the home summertime. If Smith opened the hitting for the Blues this month, for instance, it would certainly suggest he's a suitable odds to experience the new ball against India.Regardless, the prevailing conviction is that if national selectors do not generate a specialist opener for the Border-Gavaskar Prize, a sacrificial lamb within the crew are going to need to have to glide up the purchase to encounter the brand-new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Image through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being Australia's necessary Test opener, it seems significantly extremely unlikely that Steve Smith will certainly deal with the new round versus India next summer.The New South Welshman enthusiastically pushed his instance to switch out Detector at the top of the order last summer months, which subsequently supported Environment-friendly's go back to the Test side. Two birds, one stone.Smith, who had certainly never opened up before at five-star amount, cracked an unbeaten 91 against the West Indies in the pink-ball Exam at the Gabba, albeit in a losing source. However, iconoclasts stayed after the right-hander registered scores of 31, 0, 11 and also 9 throughout the Examination scenic tour of New Zealand, entraped LBW in both innings in Christchurch.When examined about what role he will play in the Test side this summer, Smith seemed to be a lot less excited about the possibility of opening up the hitting." I fit batting wherever," Smith told Fox Cricket in August." Our team'll find what that appears like, I intend, whether they want me to continue (position) or go back to 3 or even four. Our company'll stand by and also view." I am actually pretty very easy hitting anywhere. Our experts'll simply see what accumulates and what the brain count on wants." Johnson boasts a superb record at No. 4 in Tests, building up 5966 runs at 61.50 along with 19 centuries it's why opening partner Usman Khawaja would certainly choose to observe his previous leader come back to second drop his summer months." Position is a quite significant area ... (however) I still believe our experts have the most effective Examination gamer of my period in the side, in Steve Smith, and also his finest area has actually been number 4," Khawaja said to Fox Cricket last month." I seem like that's his greatest spot." Steve Johnson of Australia. Image through Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian representative Simon Katich, that successfully transitioned coming from a middle-order concoction to a Test opener, believes Smith should have yet another possibility at the top of the order." It is actually still extremely early in Johnson's opening occupation," Katich told the Cricket Et Al podcast last month." He's just performed it in New Zealand and a number of Tests against the West Indies. It can take some time to adjust. Like any type of obstacle, once you do it often as well as you obtain used to it, you develop a strategy as to exactly how you are actually heading to deal with it as well as I presume he is actually possibly still resolving that." I 'd back him to be able to get rid of that obstacle and also I presume he is actually experienced good enough and acceptable to complication handle as we all know." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe prospect of Marnus Labuschagne opening up the batting in Tests believes a lot less jarring than various other choices given that the change from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, that has taken up the No. 3 location in the Test side for over five years, is actually more than capable of encountering the swinging reception, walking out to bat with Australia but to rack up a run on eight occasions.He has actually opened up the hitting 15 opportunities at first-rate level with approximately 34.86, marking a century for Glamorgan in the Area Champion in Might."( Labuschagne) has acquired the skill set to do it. For the team too, they'll be actually considering what's the ideal set-up for the edge," past England concoction Ian Alarm said in 2015." He's been actually thus effective, his varieties are actually extraordinary, undoubtedly in Australia as well in the task he plays. There is actually no question he could perform it." Even with a form slump over the past 18 months, Labuschagne has been actually Australia's most consistent No. 3 Examination batter given that Ricky Ponting, balancing 51.78 including 11 centuries initially drop.However, his altitude will prompt yet another rejig in between order along with Johnson away from setting initially decrease moving Labuschagne to opener addresses a trouble while producing 2 new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his current excellence in the white-ball arena, Head has emerged as a reputable candidate to bat alongside Khawaja in the Examination stadium this summer months, observing in the steps of Detector by opening up in each three formats.Shifting the South Australian as much as open would permit Smith to go back to his recommended No. 4 position, however nationwide selectors may be reluctant to part means along with his counterattacking type in the middle order." Head is at the front line of that queue even though he does not actually wish to be," Updates Corp reporter Robert Craddock said to SEN Whateley final month. "I do not believe he views himself as an opening bat in Exam cricket." There is actually a little bit of a pillow if he falls short since it had not been his planning, he never ever offered services to go there certainly. So if he falls short, he possesses the rider of pointing out, 'Hey, I was going wonderfully alright down the order, incidentally'." He is actually the outstanding favourite for the position presently." Head has actually opened up the batting prior to at Examination level, albeit only for 3 matches throughout in 2015's Border-Gavaskar Prize campaign in India after Warner endured a finger trauma. In the course of a series where a lot of Australia's concoctions had a hard time for congruity, he notched 223 perform at 55.75 in 5 knocks, while he's anticipated to go back to that posture for next year's Test trip of Sri Lanka.The left-hander confessed he enjoyed opening the batting on India's transforming decks in 2014 as it enabled him to settle in to his innings against the quicks." For me, it is actually wherever our experts line up better as a group," Head said to Fox Cricket when asked them about the proposition of position in Sri Lanka next year." I more than happy where I go to." It seemed to be to work, being a little bit extra vigorous at the top, it thought that I got myself in to the game, which was nice in those ailments, experiencing fast bowling to begin with." It depends on the group's scenario ... whatever mix we throw out, it will not affect just how the crew manages." Australia's Travis Head. Image by Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have actually been remaining issues about Scalp's weakness to short-pitched bowling, which might be presented versus the brand-new sphere on Australia's prompt decks."( India) will jump the black out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Border informed Information Corp last week." He carries out certainly not participate in the brief round in addition to some others. He doesn't duck." No matter, Khawaja has thrown his assistance supporting Head opening up the hitting this summer season, declaring he was the best possibility in Australia's existing starting XI." I believe that Travis Head may be best satisfied," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket last month." He is actually certainly been actually best-selling opening the hitting in one-day cricket and also, breaking it down, I 'd possibly pitch towards him." The self-confidence transactions over. When you're viewing the round properly, racking up great deals of operates and also very little is actually looking at your head, it's a fantastic location to become." Following the 1st ODI versus England at Trent Link, Crown verified he recognized the making guesswork concerning his part in the Examination side." Maintain the chatter, it makes it intriguing," Head smirked during the course of the post-match interview." I'm not heading to study that. I'll only allow that participate in out." CAMERON GREENHeading into the previous Examination summertime, Veggie was considered a genuine alternative to change Detector when the veteran opener disconnected the boots.There wasn't any sort of room for Veggie in the Exam edge's center order following Mitchell Meadow bright's exceptional Headingley century during the Ashes, however national selectors were eager to find a job for the West Australian.And although the suggestion was actually inevitably broken up in favour of Smith's altitude, it could be taken another look at ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, who has actually never ever opened at first-rate amount, recently showed that No. 4 was his recommended role in red-ball cricket, with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 certainly not out against New Zealand at second reduce earlier this year." There is actually no doubt in my thoughts he can (open)," Watson said to ESPNcricinfo earlier the year." Australia requires to receive Cameron Eco-friendly right into the group and the chance that you've solved today is actually for him to open up. They'll just need to handle his bowling, without a doubt, like along with my bowling when I levelled the hitting. However he completely has received the capability, the run-scoring ability and the understanding to become capable to maximize being actually an opening batter for sure. It might take him a video game or two merely to be able to work out specifically what his strategic plan is actually. However he is actually most definitely received the game as well as the attitude to take advantage of it." At the same time, Australia deals with a nervous wait on Green's supply for the Border-Gavaskar Prize after the all-rounder sustained a back injury in the United Kingdom last month. Hanging the severeness of the trauma, he may serve as an expert batter.Cameron Eco-friendly of Australia. Photograph through Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summertime, Mitchell Meadow bright did his finest to dismiss concerns about possibly opening the hitting in Examinations." How perform I address this without making a title?" Wetland reflected during the time." For me ... I've operated definitely challenging to come back in this side as well as for me to await having a function as an opener just doesn't make sense to me." I adore being at amount six as well as in my final four Examination suits I have actually really discovered my way as well as I reckon that I am as an Exam cricketer as well as I am actually liking it, so I hesitate to change that." Marsh's bro and also dad properly opened up the hitting in Examinations, while the West Australian has a suitable document when experiencing the new reception in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Border Medallist has actually been actually Australia's a lot of regular concoction considering that he returned to the Exam side last year, and also nationwide selectors may be reluctant to shift him coming from No. 6. In a pillar for the 9 newspapers final summer, Australian legend Greg Chappell identified Marsh a "convincing" possibility to change Warner at the top of the order." His explosive hitting design, incorporated along with a potential to manage speed, postures him as the very best prospect," Chappell created back then." Marsh's skills in reaching down the ground and carrying out powerful hooks and decreases is actually perfect to counter-attack quick bowling." Former England leader Michael Vaughan likewise floated the idea in advance of in 2013's Ashes set when Warner was under the gun to keep his location in the Exam side.Australia's Mitchell Marsh. Picture by Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Wetland has actually certainly never baseball batted higher than No. 5 in Sheffield Defense around 95 innings for Western Australia, he plays quick bowling in addition to any individual in the country." In this particular contemporary game, it's good to possess a position batsman who looks to be positive, aims to take the game on," past Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin claimed on the Willow Talk podcast last year."( Meadow bright) gets duration as easy as any person in this particular Australian team. He is actually experienced a lot of fast bowling in the West." When there's opportunities I don't mind his label and view just how he goes at the best of the purchase." an individual ELSEAustralian instructor Andrew McDonald has actually suggested it would be very improbable for a specialist opener to be made in from outside the XI, stating that the best six from the New Zealand series would certainly continue to be for the initial Test against India." Our company experience as though that the team that completed in New Zealand, must they obtain a well-maintained go for it and be actually well readied, then they would certainly be actually the best-placed players to fill up that, there's no doubt regarding that," McDonald informed SEN earlier this month.However, those reviews happened before Eco-friendly's back accident, which could possibly open the door for a professional opener to slide into the Examination side.Matthew Renshaw is actually the necessary spare batter, having actually toured New Zealand along with the Exam edge previously this year, yet the Queenslander may have slipped down the pecking order following an underwhelming summer months in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was actually also included in the Examination team in 2015, but similarly fell out of favor as a result of his drab top-notch efficiencies, while Nic Maddinson has actually remained in excellent Sheffield Defense form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Photograph through Last Will And Testament Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, ought to a professional opener be required for the Perth Test versus India, neighborhood hero Cameron Bancroft is a leading candidate.The West Australian has actually been in scintillating type in the Sheffield Shield over the final 24 months, collecting 1728 perform at 54.00 during the course of that duration, featuring 10 hundreds.Bancroft possesses a wealth of knowledge versus the brand-new ball and would certainly be actually fully equipped to deal with Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and also Mohammad Siraj this summer." Versus a more typical Exam suit assault like India I would rather go with a conventional opener," Perimeter proceeded." I would certainly go back to Bancroft. I am satisfying functionality." I am actually not going to mention I sympathize with Bancroft, however you might at the same time certainly not worry about possessing a Sheffield Guard competitors if you don't reward its own leading performers.".