Australia's next generation openers

[scooter600x]

When Langer and Hayden retire, Australia is going to have a huge problem with openers.

Does any state have an opener under 25?

Who will be our next pair?

[Freo Big Fella]

M Hussey, Jacques, Rogers, Dave Dawson are the ones that come to mind.

[quiksilva]

How old is Chris Rogers ?

[scooter600x]

How old is Chris Rogers ?
Chris Rogers
Born August 31, 1977

class mat inns no runs hs ave 100 50 ct st
First-class 52 94 6 4040 209 45.90 11 19 51 0


Phil Jaques
Born May 3, 1979

Batting and fielding averages
class mat inns no runs hs ave 100 50 ct st
First-class 62 109 5 5677 243 54.58 15 27 52 0


Ben Cameron
Born February 21, 1981
Batting and fielding averages
class mat inns no runs hs ave 100 50 ct st
First-class 6 12 1 252 81 22.90 0 3 4 0



Who's Dawson?

[Unwritten_Law]

Birt

[Unwritten_Law]

And Dawson is a keeper bat from Tassie via Canberra I think. He started off ok but he's no good IMO.

[Wicked Lester]

Who's Dawson?

Dawson, Smoky

Born: Wangaratta 1913

Comments: could plug a hole at the top of the order, but does not really solve Australia's ageing dilemma and does not represent a long term option.

[Half Back Flanker]

Forget Dawson, his place in the Tas team is very fragile.

I think if one of the openers goes soon it will be Chris Rogers who gets a call up, though he is 27 I think.

[the_mighty_pies_3733]

Hussey and Jaques/Rogers

[jimmy_clement#8]

jacques and rogers, i think hussey will be 3 or 4, eventually

[bulldogtragic]

Can Marcus North open?

[pinkus maximus]

Can Marcus North open?

He has never opened in first class cricket AFAIK

He has in OD cricket but aparantley he will be moved back down the order this season

[bogan4life]

Matt Innes Footscray Edgewater and Travis Birt Tassie/Sale

[Cooldude]

Aus atm probably needs a bowling allrounder more than a batting one, which is what Roy is, and if you're looking at Aussie batsmen in line for Test selection, Roy wouldn't be in the top 3 of the selectors' choice

[Black Thunder]

The one problem we do have i nthe future i see is the opening batting position.

After the current team we have everything else covered - middle order batsmen (Watson, Clarke, D. Hussey, M. Hussey, North), keepers (Crosthwaite, Haddin), spinners (Casson, White and Cullen) and quickies (Tait, Rofe, Cleary, Inness). Those names amongst others. All those players wouldn't be far off ready for international cricket - some already are. And theer is also plenty of younger raw talent in those positions.

But the opening position is a problem. Chris Rogers is good but he's now pushing 28 and is no longer a spring chicken. Aside from him there isn't really anyone under the age of 30 whos even close to being ready for test cricket - there's a fair bit of talent, but as of yet not much performance. Phil Jacques is probably the next one on the block behind him and even he is very inconsistent.

I have said it numerous times before but i think Queensland should open with Shane Watson for a season and see how he goes. He's bats number 3 for them and it's not much different to opening really. For all the bagging he cops, he's one of the best young batsmen in the country. I think long term it could be a wise move for Australia to get him accustomed to opening the batting at first class level - i defeinetaly think he has the talent and the technique to do it.

[sinepari]

The one problem we do have i nthe future i see is the opening batting position.

After the current team we have everything else covered - middle order batsmen (Watson, Clarke, D. Hussey, M. Hussey, North), keepers (Crosthwaite, Haddin), spinners (Casson, White and Cullen) and quickies (Tait, Rofe, Cleary, Inness). Those names amongst others. All those players wouldn't be far off ready for international cricket - some already are. And theer is also plenty of younger raw talent in those positions.
.
Opening batsman.

[dogs105]

Langer wasn't a test opener...

until he became a test opener.

(If you know what I mean)

[sinepari]

Langer wasn't a test opener...

until he became a test opener.

(If you know what I mean)

So are you trying to say:
a) Hussey will bat down the order?
b) Look at more than just openers for a suitable replacement?

It must be stressed that JL was a number 3 and had opened quite a few times for WA in the past. To me, being a number 3 and moving to opener is alot different to being either a middle order batsman and moving to opener or vice verser.

[Homer Jnr]

Nick Kruger.