Former Australian captain Ian Chappell has delivered a blunt assessment of his nation's selection dilemma ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes opener against England, branding any move to promote Marnus Labuschagne as an opener as "stupid".
Selection Headache for Australian Camp
The build-up to this winter's Ashes series is filled with palpable excitement as cricket's oldest rivals prepare to renew hostilities. Ben Stokes' England side arrive in Australia confident of securing their first series victory Down Under since 1987, a daunting historical challenge given Australia's dominant home record of 90 wins from 172 Tests.
While England appear to have settled on most of their starting eleven for the tour, Australia face significant selection uncertainties ahead of the first Test in Perth. These concerns have been compounded by injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, leaving the hosts with multiple positions to finalise.
The most pressing question revolves around who will partner veteran opener Usman Khawaja, who is poised to earn his 85th Test cap. Uncapped South Australian batsman Jake Weatherald has emerged as the frontrunner following impressive Sheffield Shield performances, but some voices within Australian cricket have advocated for a reshuffle that would see the resurgent Labuschagne elevated to the top order.
Chappell's Firm Verdict on Batting Order
When questioned about the opening conundrum on Nine's Wide World of Sports, Chappell left no room for ambiguity regarding his preferences. "Well I hope so, mainly because I would like to see Labuschagne at three," the former skipper stated when asked if Weatherald should get the nod.
Chappell elaborated on his reasoning, emphasising Labuschagne's optimal position in the batting lineup. "If he [Labuschagne] is back playing the way that he should play, rather than the way that he was playing, then he's a number three. At his best he's a very good number three so I think it would be stupid to try and open with him, in which case you would have to open with Weatherald."
The cricket legend also highlighted the importance of Steve Smith to Australia's fortunes, describing the stand-in captain as "comfortably" the team's best batsman and a potential match-winner who could dominate the series if allowed to settle.
Contrasting Views from Vaughan
While Chappell advocates for Weatherald's inclusion, former England captain Michael Vaughan has proposed a radically different solution, suggesting that Mitchell Marsh should be surprisingly promoted to open the batting despite his omission from the squad for the first Test.
Vaughan explained his unconventional thinking on The Overlap Cricket, citing two key factors: "He's in good form and I think Usman Khawaja needs a partner who can get on the front foot."
The English pundit referenced Marsh's previous success against Mark Wood's express pace as evidence of his capability to handle England's feared pace attack, particularly Jofra Archer. "If they allow Archer to get off to a start and get a bit of confidence then he will grow and grow," Vaughan warned. "I would be very tempted, if I was Australia, to throw Mitchell Marsh at the top."
With the first Test at Optus Stadium commencing on Friday and England expected to field an all-pace attack, Australia's final decision on their opening combination could prove pivotal in setting the tone for the entire Ashes series.
