Retired Test great Ryan Harris has called for calm surrounding Australia’s selections as the post-mortem from the World Test Championship final continues.
The loss to South Africa has brought into question the future of top order batters like Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne, while the jury is out on Cam Green‘s best spot.
“I don’t think we need to panic, we’ve lost one game … we’ve played some really good cricket, we don’t need to panic,” Harris said on 2GB’s Wide World of Sports Radio.
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The final was Labuschagne’s first appearance as an opener, scoring 17 and 22.
Khawaja, who was coming off a brilliant campaign in Sri Lanka, finished with a duck and six.
Usman Khawaja walks off after he was dismissed at Lord’s. Getty
Now attention turns to the West Indies tour and the upcoming Ashes.
In the wake of the loss, coach Andrew McDonald said the West Indies Tests won’t be a “direct connection” for the Ashes side, pointing more towards the Sheffield Shield.
Harris wants this West Indies tour to be about players getting back their mojo.
“They need to use these Test matches to make sure they get some runs and working out how they play,” he said.
“The other thing is, whether it’s Labuschagne at the top or whether they go to Sam Konstas, say mate you’ve got three Tests, go and get yourself right, work out your method of batting.”
Harris added he doesn’t see Green as a No.3 “at this point of time”.
“I think he needs to be down the order,” he said.
The injury to Steve Smith, which could rule him out of the first Test could result in Green pushing to No.4, with Labuschagne back to his usual position and Sam Konstas opening.
Marnus Labuschagne walks off at Lord’s. Getty
The other option that’s been thrown out is Travis Head opens which could open the door for Josh Inglis in the middle order.
When asked whether it’s time for Konstas to be selected again, Harris said he just wants a proper opener.
“I think they need a genuine opener, I’ve always been a fan of a genuine opener doing the opening spot,” he said.
“You talk to a lot of batters and they always talk about it’s one of the hardest jobs in cricket.
“… I’d like to see Marnus stay in somehow, he probably hasn’t warranted it, I know he could be such a good player and he’s a big player in that team and he has a good run at it, if they do need that specialist opener, Konstas has to be that one.
Sam Konstas of Australia during a nets session at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Getty
“If they’re going down that road this is probably the best time for it.
“There’s been talk of Travis Head opening, which he has done in sub-continent conditions because he gets the ball when it’s hard, that’s OK as well but I don’t know if that’s the right preparation for the Ashes.
“If they’re not using it as preparation for the Ashes then mix-up the combinations but I think it’s a good opportunity to get Konstas in there and get him some experience.”
