.10 months complying with David Warner's Test retirement, Australia is no place near closer to finding a replacement.The one selection secret before this summer months's Border-Gavaskar Prize stays the identity of Usman Khawaja's opening companion, a storyline that dominated the back webpage of newspapers final summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Prize, Steve Smith was elevated to opener to include Cameron Environment-friendly in the center purchase, allowing for the nation's 6 greatest batters to match the very same beginning XI.But 4 Test matches later, there are actually rumblings of one more improvement to Australia's hitting order in front of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Prize, which receives underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & special to Fox Sports, accessible on Kayo. New to Kayo? Begin your totally free test today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Meadow Bright and Environment-friendly have actually each conveyed hesitation when asked about the prospect of position, while the back accident Veggie sustained in the UK final month generated further plan regarding the Examination side's makeup. The initial couple of arounds of Sheffield Guard activity, which starts Tuesday, could possibly give a clue for the national selectors' objectives the state coaches have actually revealed they agree to adjust their beginning XI to assist prep Australia's Test celebrities for the home summer season. If Smith opened up the batting for cry this month, for instance, it will propose he's a respectable possibility to deal with the new ball versus India.Regardless, the prevailing feeling is actually that if nationwide selectors do not introduce a specialist opener for the Border-Gavaskar Prize, a propitiatory lamb within the team are going to need to slide up the purchase to deal with the brand-new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Picture through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being Australia's incumbent Test opener, it appears increasingly not likely that Steve Johnson will encounter the new ball versus India next summer.The New South Welshman enthusiastically pushed his case to switch out Detector on top of the order last summertime, which in turn supported Environment-friendly's come back to the Examination side. 2 birds, one stone.Smith, who had certainly never opened up just before at five-star degree, clipped an unbeaten 91 versus the West Indies in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba, albeit in a shedding cause. However, sceptics stayed after the right-hander enrolled ratings of 31, 0, 11 as well as 9 in the course of the Examination scenic tour of New Zealand, caught LBW in each innings in Christchurch.When examined regarding what role he 'd play in the Exam edge this summer, Johnson appeared a lot less excited concerning the possibility of opening the batting." I fit batting any place," Johnson informed Fox Cricket in August." We'll find what that seems like, I mean, whether they prefer me to proceed (opening) or go back to 3 or four. Our experts'll wait and find." I'm rather simple hitting anywhere. Our team'll just observe what stacks up and also what the brain count on wishes." Johnson flaunts an excellent file at No. 4 in Examinations, collecting 5966 perform at 61.50 with 19 centuries it's why opening companion Usman Khawaja would choose to observe his previous leader return to second splash his summer season." Position is actually an incredibly essential location ... (yet) I still assume our experts have the most effective Examination player of my time in the side, in Steve Johnson, as well as his best area has been actually number 4," Khawaja told Fox Cricket last month." I seem like that's his greatest spot." Steve Smith of Australia. Image through Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian representative Simon Katich, who successfully transitioned from a middle-order concoction to an Examination opener, strongly believes Johnson should have an additional odds on top of the order." It is actually still extremely early in Smith's opening job," Katich informed the Cricket Et alia podcast last month." He's simply performed it in New Zealand and a number of Tests against the West Indies. It may take a while to change. Like any sort of problem, once you do it more often and also you obtain utilized to it, you formulate a strategy as to exactly how you are actually heading to go about it and I believe he is actually possibly still overcoming that." I will back him to become capable to conquer that challenge and I think he is actually experienced enough and acceptable to complication address as most of us know." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe possibility of Marnus Labuschagne opening the hitting in Exams thinks less jarring than various other possibilities considering that the change coming from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, that has actually inhabited the No. 3 place in the Examination edge for over five years, is more than capable of encountering the opening reception, going out to baseball bat along with Australia yet to rack up a run on 8 occasions.He has actually opened the batting 15 opportunities at superior confess an average of 34.86, marking a century for Glamorgan in the Region Champion in May."( Labuschagne) has obtained the skill set to do it. For the group too, they'll be thinking about what is actually the best set-up for the edge," previous England concoction Ian Alarm pointed out in 2014." He's been actually so successful, his numbers are actually astonishing, certainly in Australia too in the part he participates in. There is actually no question he could possibly perform it." Despite a type slump over the past 18 months, Labuschagne has been Australia's the majority of consistent No. 3 Examination batter because Ricky Ponting, averaging 51.78 consisting of 11 centuries at first drop.However, his elevation will urge one more rejig in the center order with Smith out of posture at first decrease relocating Labuschagne to opener addresses a complication while producing two brand new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his current results in the white-ball arena, Crown has actually emerged as a prominent prospect to bat together with Khawaja in the Examination arena this summer months, adhering to in the tracks of Detector by opening in every three formats.Shifting the South Australian up to open up would make it possible for Johnson to go back to his preferred No. 4 posture, but nationwide selectors might be reluctant to component ways along with his counterattacking design in the middle order." Head goes to the cutting edge of that line although he doesn't really would like to be," Headlines Corporation media reporter Robert Craddock said to SEN Whateley final month. "I do not assume he finds himself as a position baseball bat in Exam cricket." There is actually a little a cushion if he fails since it wasn't his plan, he never offered to go there certainly. So if he fails, he has the biker of mentioning, 'Hey, I was going perfectly alright down the order, incidentally'." He is actually the outstanding favourite for the position at the moment." Head has actually opened up the hitting before at Test level, albeit merely for 3 suits throughout in 2015's Border-Gavaskar Prize campaign in India after Warner went through a finger accident. Throughout a series where the majority of Australia's batters had a hard time for consistency, he notched 223 go for 55.75 in 5 knocks, while he's assumed to return to that placement for following year's Test scenic tour of Sri Lanka.The left-hander admitted he delighted in opening the hitting on India's switching decks in 2015 as it permitted him to work out in to his innings versus the quicks." For me, it is actually any place we align well as a staff," Scalp told Fox Cricket when asked them about the proposal of position in Sri Lanka next year." I'm happy where I'm at." It seemed to work, being a little bit a lot more assertive on top, it seemed like I obtained on my own into the game, which behaved in those ailments, facing rapid bowling initially." It depends upon the group's circumstance ... whatever combination we throw out, it will not impact just how the team runs." Australia's Travis Scalp. Picture by Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have been hanging around issues regarding Scalp's vulnerability to short-pitched bowling, which can be exposed versus the new round on Australia's fast decks."( India) will bounce the crap out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Boundary said to Updates Corporation recently." He carries out not participate in the quick sphere in addition to a few other. He doesn't duck." Regardless, Khawaja has tossed his help backing Head opening up the hitting this summer months, declaring he was the most effective option in Australia's present beginning XI." I seem like Travis Head could be absolute best satisfied," Khawaja told Fox Cricket final month." He's certainly been very successful opening the hitting in one-day cricket as well as, breaking it down, I will most likely pitch towards him." The assurance moves over. When you are actually viewing the ball properly, scoring great deals of runs as well as not much is going through your head, it's a great location to become." Adhering to the initial ODI against England at Trent Link, Crown affirmed he understood the making hunch concerning his duty in the Exam side." Maintain the chatter, it makes it interesting," Head smirked throughout the post-match press conference." I am actually certainly not visiting dive into that. I'll only allow that participate in out." CAMERON GREENHeading in to the previous Exam summer, Veggie was taken into consideration an authentic option to switch out Warner when the veteran opener put up the boots.There had not been any sort of room for Veggie in the Examination edge's middle purchase complying with Mitchell Meadow bright's exceptional Headingley century in the course of the Ashes, yet national selectors were eager to locate an opportunity for the West Australian.And although the suggestion was inevitably broken up in favor of Smith's altitude, maybe taken another look at before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, that has actually never opened up at five-star degree, previously suggested that No. 4 was his ideal location in red-ball cricket, with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 certainly not out versus New Zealand at second decline previously this year." There's no doubt in my mind he can easily (open)," Watson said to ESPNcricinfo earlier the year." Australia needs to receive Cameron Environment-friendly in to the team as well as the possibility that you've solved now is actually for him to open up. They'll only must endure his bowling, for certain, like with my bowling when I levelled the hitting. Yet he absolutely has got the ability, the run-scoring potential and the understanding to be capable to take advantage of being actually an opening concoction for certain. It may take him a game or two merely to become able to work out exactly what his tactical plan is. But he is actually undoubtedly got the video game and also the attitude to maximize it." Meanwhile, Australia encounters a concerned arrange Environment-friendly's schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Prize after the all-rounder endured a back personal injury in the United Kingdom final month. Pending the severity of the accident, he may act as a specialist batter.Cameron Environment-friendly of Australia. Image through Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summer, Mitchell Marsh did his finest to brush aside inquiries concerning potentially opening up the hitting in Examinations." Just how perform I address this without bring in a headline?" Meadow bright contemplated during the time." For me ... I've functioned really hard to come back in this edge and also for me to look forward to having a job as an opener only does not make good sense to me." I adore going to variety six and in my last 4 Examination matches I have actually definitely discovered my means and I suspect who I am as a Test cricketer as well as I'm loving it, so I'm reluctant to transform that." Wetland's bro and also dad efficiently opened the hitting in Exams, while the West Australian possesses a respectable report when facing the brand new ball in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Border Medallist has been Australia's many regular batter due to the fact that he went back to the Test side in 2013, as well as national selectors may be reluctant to move him coming from No. 6. In a column for the Nine newspapers last summertime, Australian legend Greg Chappell classified Wetland a "convincing" alternative to replace Detector on top of the purchase." His eruptive batting design, blended with a capability to deal with pace, positions him as the most ideal candidate," Chappell wrote at that time." Meadow bright's effectiveness in striking down the ground and executing strong hooks and also reduces is suitable to counter-attack prompt bowling." Former England leader Michael Vaughan likewise drifted the idea before in 2015's Ashes set when Detector was under pressure to maintain his spot in the Examination side.Australia's Mitchell Marsh. Photograph through Dab Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Wetland has actually never ever baseball batted greater than No. 5 in Sheffield Shield around 95 innings for Western Australia, he plays fast bowling as well as any individual in the country." In this particular modern game, it's good to possess an opening batsman who seems proactive, seeks to take the video game on," previous Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin mentioned on the Willow Talk podcast in 2015."( Meadow bright) picks up span as easy as anyone in this particular Australian staff. He's encountered a considerable amount of prompt bowling in the West." When there's opportunities I do not mind his title as well as see just how he goes at the best of the purchase." a person ELSEAustralian trainer Andrew McDonald has actually hinted it would be actually very extremely unlikely for a professional opener to be made in coming from outside the XI, repeating that the best six from the New Zealand collection would continue to be for the first Examination against India." We believe as though that the group that finished in New Zealand, must they receive a tidy run at it as well as be effectively prepared, at that point they would certainly be the best-placed players to load that, there is actually no question regarding that," McDonald informed SEN earlier this month.However, those opinions came before Eco-friendly's back personal injury, which might unlock for a professional opener to move in to the Test side.Matthew Renshaw is actually the necessary extra concoction, having visited New Zealand along with the Examination edge previously this year, but the Queenslander might possess slid down the position observing an underwhelming summer in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was actually also included in the Examination team in 2013, yet likewise befalled of favor due to his lacklustre top-notch performances, while Nic Maddinson has actually been in outstanding Sheffield Guard form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Picture by Can Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, ought to a professional opener be actually needed to have for the Perth Test versus India, neighborhood hero Cameron Bancroft is a leading candidate.The West Australian has been in brilliant form in the Sheffield Shield over the final 24 months, compiling 1728 go for 54.00 throughout that time period, consisting of ten hundreds.Bancroft has a wealth of knowledge versus the brand new reception and would certainly be actually well-equipped to take care of Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj this summertime." Against a much more conventional Exam match assault like India I prefer to pick a typical opener," Border continued." I would get back to Bancroft. I am gratifying performance." I am actually certainly not going to state I pity Bancroft, but you might at the same time not worry about possessing a Sheffield Shield competition if you don't compensate its own leading entertainers.".