The afterglow of James Pattinson’s heroics in Australia’s crushing victory over New Zealand shouldn’t keep the spotlight off the obvious flaws in the top order.
If Michael Clarke is serious about beating India this summer, he and the selection panel need to bite the bullet and shift the patient Usman Khawaja to opener and send Phil Hughes back to Sheffield Shield.
After being among the punters at the Gabba last week, it’s clear Hughes will struggle to fulfil his potential while struggling to face anyone who can bowl 130 clicks, slant it across him and short of a length.
The other issue faced by Hughes, is trying to work through his technical frustrations with the whirlwind that is Dave Warner at the other end.
It’s a high-risk, high reward policy for Australia which could also be a recipe for disaster.
There was a huge buzz in the crowd when the pair walked to the crease in the first innings against the Kiwis, as everyone contemplated the possibilities of what the dynamite Warner could produce.
Warner’s failure to drop his hands, when caught off the unremarkable Tim Southee, is further proof Test cricket is an entirely different beast to any other format or competition in the game.
It’s a lesson the swashbuckling leftie needs to learn - and quickly.
In 16 Tests, Hughes averages 36.13 and has scored three centuries.
It’s a mediocre set of numbers and his dismissal in the second innings against New Zealand was pathetic.
Even in picking up the pieces after cyclone Pattinson struck in Brisbane, Kiwi captain Ross Taylor still fired a shot at Clarke and the Aussies about retaining Hughes.
Anyone who is in danger of becoming Chris Martin’s bunny has much to contemplate about their Test future.
While Khawaja is pegged to succeed Ricky Ponting as Australia’s permanent No 3, he is a perfect foil for Warner as an opener.
He is highly organised, determined and seemingly unflappable.
Khawaja’s 38 against the Kiwis was just what the doctor ordered after Warner and Hughes left Australia floundering at 2-25.
He was batting superbly until Ponting found it necessary to run him out in pursuit of an absurd quick single first ball after tea on day two.
Let him open.
With Simon Katich unfairly out of the picture and Shane Watson again breaking down, keep the Warner experiment going in the short term and let’s see what happens.
Warner will benefit for having Khawaja there in an anchor role and leave Hughes to regain his confidence and form in the domestic ranks.
We all know Warner could do some real damage if he can set a platform.
South Australian Dan Christian deserves his chance in the No 6 spot, until Watson is fit again.
Watson, often a flat-track bully and occasionally a player of greater measure, should never open again, it’s clear the workload is just too much.
He’s admitted as much himself.
In the twilight of his career, Ponting has shoved the spotlight aside once more with his hard-fought 78.
However, Christian could put some real pressure on Michael Hussey if he was to deliver with bat or ball in Hobart.
Pattinson has delivered the goods, Cummins is an exciting prospect, but will evidently be kept in cotton wool and Ryan Harris and Watson are still to return.
Leftie Mitchell Starc provides variation, with the out-of-form Mitchell Johnson also on the casualty list, but after an impressive start to his Test career, lost his way later in the first Test.
Still, the pressure on the bowling attack is off, for the time being at least.
Australian cricket is in a period of transition and will be for some time to come, but the new selection panel - chairman John Inverarity, Andy Bichel and Rod Marsh, as well as Clarke - need to make the hard decisions higher up the batting list.
Email a friend