The much-awaited four-match Test series between the hosts Australia and the visitors India will begin in less than a week. While the hosts will miss their crucial opening batsman David Warner in the first Test due to groin injury, former World Cup-winning Aussie captain Michael Clarke spoke about the unsettled Australian Test players.
When India toured Australia last time, they won their first-ever Test and ODI bilateral series in this country. While the present Australian team is definitely stronger than those struggling Aussie sides, they will miss their crucial opening batsman David Warner at least in the opening game of the forthcoming Test series.
So, it is important to re-think about the opening slot of the Australian team ahead of the first Test, which will begin on coming Thursday (17th December) at Adelaide Oval (Adelaide). While Joe Burns is currently struggling in this new home season, young uncapped Will Pucovski is doubtful for the first Test due to recent head injury during the first warm-up match against India.
Michael Clarke believes that the versatile cricketer Matthew Wade can be a good option for the opening batting slot. The second-most run-scorer in Sheffield Shield 2018/19 (scored 1021 runs), Wade was in very good form in the recently concluded home T20I series against India. Though Australia lost that series by the 2-1 margin, Wade finished as the leading run-scorer in that series with 145 runs (average 48.33), including two fifties.
Michael Clarke supports Matthew Wade for the upcoming Test playing XI
Also, early of the ongoing Sheffield Shield season, Wade scored three half-centuries in four innings. In those matches, Wade batted at the no.3 position.
Clarke recently told AAP, “If you’re going to pick Cameron Green then you’ve got to find another spot for Wadey. He’s got to be in that starting XI but that could be anywhere in that team. That could be opening the batting if need be. I think Wadey can do that.”
Michael Clarke is happy about the two youngsters Cameron Green and Will Pucovski. The former Aussie captain is excited to watch these talents in international cricket.
He added, “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with promoting these two youngsters and being excited about how talented they are. We always need to remember that sport at the highest level is very hard and you’ve got to expect that there’s going to be some great times and there’s going to be some tough times. As long as we appreciate that as a fan then I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be super excited.”
The opening match of the Test series between Australia and India will be a day/night pink-ball Test match.