.10 months following David Warner's Examination retirement life, Australia is nowhere near closer to locating a replacement.The one assortment puzzle ahead of this summer's Border-Gavaskar Trophy continues to be the identity of Usman Khawaja's opening companion, a story that dominated the rear webpage of newspapers last summer.Ahead of January's Frank Worrell Trophy, Steve Johnson was elevated to opener to make room for Cameron Eco-friendly in the center purchase, allowing the nation's 6 best batters to match the very same beginning XI.But 4 Examination suits eventually, there are actually rumblings of an additional modification to Australia's batting purchase ahead of the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Prize, which receives underway in Perth next month.Watch India v New Zealand LIVE & exclusive to Fox Sports, readily available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free of cost test today > Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Meadow Bright and also Green have each conveyed unwillingness when asked about the prospect of position, while the rear trauma Environment-friendly sustained in the UK last month created more manipulation concerning the Exam side's cosmetics. The initial couple of rounds of Sheffield Defense activity, which starts Tuesday, could supply a hint for the national selectors' objectives the state coaches have actually shown they're willing to change their beginning XI to assist prep Australia's Exam celebrities for the home summer season. If Johnson opened up the batting for the Blues this month, for example, it will advise he is actually a suitable chance to experience the brand new sphere versus India.Regardless, the dominating feeling is actually that if nationwide selectors do not introduce a professional opener for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a sacrificial sheep within the group will definitely require to glide up the purchase to experience the brand-new ball.Usman Khawaja of Australia. Picture through Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesSTEVE SMITHDespite being actually Australia's necessary Exam opener, it seems significantly unexpected that Steve Smith will certainly experience the new ball against India next summer.The New South Welshman readily pushed his scenario to change Warner on top of the order final summer season, which consequently supported Green's go back to the Exam side. Two birds, one stone.Smith, who had actually never ever opened up before at excellent amount, clipped an unbeaten 91 versus the West Indies in the pink-ball Examination at the Gabba, albeit in a dropping source. However, iconoclasts continued to be after the right-hander enrolled scores of 31, 0, 11 as well as 9 in the course of the Test trip of New Zealand, trapped LBW in both innings in Christchurch.When questioned concerning what part he will play in the Exam side this summer season, Smith appeared much less enthusiastic about the possibility of opening the batting." I fit batting anywhere," Johnson informed Fox Cricket in August." Our team'll observe what that resembles, I suppose, whether they desire me to proceed (opening) or even get back to 3 or even four. Our experts'll hang around and observe." I'm rather effortless batting anywhere. Our experts'll only find what accumulates and also what the mind leave wants." Johnson flaunts a wonderful report at No. 4 in Tests, building up 5966 go for 61.50 with 19 centuries it is actually why opening partner Usman Khawaja would choose to observe his former captain go back to second drop his summer months." Position is a very significant area ... (but) I still believe we have the very best Test player of my era in the side, in Steve Johnson, and his absolute best location has actually been actually variety 4," Khawaja informed Fox Cricket final month." I think that that's his finest place." Steve Johnson of Australia. Image by Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPFormer Australian representative Simon Katich, who efficiently transitioned coming from a middle-order concoction to a Test opener, feels Smith is entitled to an additional possibility on top of the order." It's still quite early in Johnson's position career," Katich informed the Cricket Et alia podcast last month." He's just performed it in New Zealand and a number of Examinations versus the West Indies. It can easily require time to change. Like any type of difficulty, as soon as you perform it regularly and also you get made use of to it, you formulate a strategy concerning exactly how you are actually heading to engage in it and also I presume he is actually perhaps still overcoming that." I 'd back him to be able to eliminate that obstacle as well as I think he's experienced good enough and also good enough to problem solve as we all know." MARNUS LABUSCHAGNEThe possibility of Marnus Labuschagne opening up the batting in Exams thinks less jerky than other possibilities since the change from No. 3 to opener isn't as drastic.The Queenslander, that has taken up the No. 3 area in the Examination side for over 5 years, is actually much more than with the ability of encountering the swinging reception, going out to baseball bat along with Australia but to score an operate on eight occasions.He has opened up the hitting 15 opportunities at top-notch confess an average of 34.86, notching a century for Glamorgan in the County Championship in May."( Labuschagne) has received the capability to do it. For the crew too, they'll be considering what's the correct set-up for the edge," previous England concoction Ian Alarm claimed in 2014." He's been actually thus effective, his varieties are unbelievable, surely in Australia at the same time in the task he participates in. There's certainly he can do it." In spite of a form rut over recent 18 months, Labuschagne has actually been Australia's a lot of steady No. 3 Exam concoction given that Ricky Ponting, averaging 51.78 including 11 centuries initially drop.However, his elevation would certainly motivate yet another rejig in the center purchase with Smith out of placement initially drop relocating Labuschagne to opener addresses an issue while developing 2 brand-new ones.Marnus Labuschagne of Australia. Photograph by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesTRAVIS HEADFollowing his recent success in the white-ball stadium, Crown has actually become a leading prospect to bat together with Khawaja in the Examination stadium this summer, following in the footprints of Warner through opening in all 3 formats.Shifting the South Australian up to open up would certainly allow Smith to return to his preferred No. 4 posture, however national selectors might be reluctant to component means along with his counterattacking design in the center purchase." Head is at the front line of that queue although he does not actually intend to be actually," Information Corporation media reporter Robert Craddock told SEN Whateley final month. "I do not think he finds himself as an opening bat in Test cricket." There is a little bit of a padding if he neglects because it wasn't his strategy, he never ever volunteered to go there. Thus if he falls short, he has the cyclist of mentioning, 'Hey, I was actually going flawlessly alright down the purchase, by the way'." He's the outstanding favourite for the placement presently." Head has opened up the hitting just before at Examination degree, albeit only for 3 suits during in 2013's Border-Gavaskar Prize campaign in India after Warner experienced a possession injury. In the course of a collection where most of Australia's concoctions strained for consistency, he marked 223 runs at 55.75 in 5 takes, while he's anticipated to return to that setting for upcoming year's Examination scenic tour of Sri Lanka.The left-hander confessed he enjoyed opening the batting on India's switching decks in 2014 as it enabled him to work out right into his innings versus the quicks." For me, it is actually everywhere our experts line up best as a group," Scalp informed Fox Cricket when inquired about the proposition of position in Sri Lanka upcoming year." I more than happy where I'm at." It appeared to work, being a little bit more assertive at the top, it thought that I acquired myself into the activity, which was nice in those ailments, dealing with swift bowling first." It depends on the team's situation ... whatever mixture our company throw out, it won't have an effect on just how the team manages." Australia's Travis Head. Photo through Sanka Vidanagama/ AFPSource: AFPMeanwhile, there have been staying issues regarding Head's weakness to short-pitched bowling, which could be presented versus the brand new round on Australia's fast decks."( India) is going to hop the black out of him," Australian cricket legend Allan Boundary said to Information Corporation last week." He performs certainly not play the short round along with some others. He doesn't duck." Regardless, Khawaja has thrown his support supporting Head opening up the batting this summer, declaring he was actually the very best option in Australia's existing starting XI." I feel like Travis Head could be greatest matched," Khawaja told Fox Cricket final month." He is actually certainly been actually very successful opening the batting in one-day cricket as well as, breaking it down, I 'd perhaps lean towards him." The confidence transactions over. When you are actually seeing the ball effectively, racking up tons of runs as well as not much is actually looking at your head, it's a fantastic place to become." Complying with the very first ODI against England at Trent Bridge, Head confirmed he understood the developing opinion concerning his duty in the Test edge." Always keep the babble, it creates it appealing," Scalp smirked during the course of the post-match press conference." I am actually not heading to dive into that. I'll simply let that participate in out." CAMERON GREENHeading right into the previous Exam summer, Eco-friendly was actually looked at an authentic choice to replace Detector when the pro opener disconnected the boots.There wasn't any kind of space for Green in the Examination side's middle order complying with Mitchell Marsh's impressive Headingley century during the course of the Ashes, however national selectors aspired to locate an openings for the West Australian.And although the concept was inevitably broken up in favor of Johnson's elevation, it could be reviewed before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.Green, who has actually never opened up at superior degree, previously indicated that No. 4 was his preferred role in red-ball cricket, along with the right-hander thumping a career-best 174 not out versus New Zealand at 2nd decrease earlier this year." There's no doubt in my thoughts he can easily (open)," Watson told ESPNcricinfo previously the year." Australia requires to obtain Cameron Environment-friendly into the team and the opportunity that you have actually got right today is actually for him to open. They'll only have to manage his bowling, for certain, like with my bowling when I was opening the hitting. Yet he definitely has actually acquired the skill-set, the run-scoring ability as well as the understanding to be able to make the most of being actually an opening batter for certain. It could take him a game or two merely to become able to exercise specifically what his game plan is. Yet he's certainly received the activity and also the attitude to maximize it." On the other hand, Australia deals with a tense wait on Eco-friendly's schedule for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the all-rounder received a back trauma in the United Kingdom last month. Pending the severity of the trauma, he might work as an expert batter.Cameron Veggie of Australia. Image by Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesMITCHELL MARSHLast summer months, Mitchell Wetland performed his greatest to dismiss questions regarding possibly opening up the batting in Tests." How do I answer this without making a title?" Marsh contemplated during the time." For me ... I've worked really difficult to get back in this side and also for me to anticipate possessing a duty as an opener only does not make sense to me." I really love being at variety six and also in my last 4 Exam suits I have actually definitely located my technique and also I suspect that I am actually as a Test cricketer and I'm adoring it, so I hesitate to transform that." Wetland's sibling as well as dad successfully opened up the batting in Tests, while the West Australian has a good file when facing the brand-new ball in one-day cricket.However, the reigning Allan Perimeter Medallist has actually been Australia's most consistent batter because he came back to the Exam side in 2013, and nationwide selectors might hesitate to shift him coming from No. 6. In a pillar for the 9 newspapers last summer, Australian tale Greg Chappell tagged Wetland a "engaging" choice to change Warner on top of the purchase." His explosive batting style, combined along with a potential to deal with speed, positions him as the very best prospect," Chappell composed back then." Wetland's efficiency in reaching down the ground and also performing strong hooks and also cuts is best to counter-attack prompt bowling." Former England leader Michael Vaughan also floated the idea before in 2015's Ashes collection when Warner was actually under the gun to keep his location in the Examination side.Australia's Mitchell Meadow bright. Image by Pat Hoelscher/ AFPSource: AFPAlthough Wetland has never ever batted more than No. 5 in Sheffield Cover throughout 95 innings for Western Australia, he plays fast bowling as well as any person in the country." In this particular modern video game, it is actually really good to have an opening batsman who seems practical, aims to take the video game on," former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin stated on the Willow Talk podcast in 2013."( Marsh) picks up length as quick as anybody within this Australian team. He is actually faced a considerable amount of quick bowling in the West." When there is actually chances I do not mind his title and find exactly how he goes at the best of the order." an individual ELSEAustralian instructor Andrew McDonald has prompted it would be actually highly unexpected for a specialist opener to become made in from outside the XI, restating that the best 6 coming from the New Zealand collection would continue to be for the very first Exam against India." Our company think as though that the group that completed in New Zealand, ought to they receive a clean run at it and also be actually well prepped, then they would certainly be actually the best-placed players to fill that, there is actually no question concerning that," McDonald informed SEN previously this month.However, those comments came just before Environment-friendly's return trauma, which could unlock for an expert opener to slide in to the Examination side.Matthew Renshaw is actually the necessary extra batter, having actually toured New Zealand with the Exam edge previously this year, however the Queenslander might have slid down the position complying with an underwhelming summer months in the Sheffield Shield.Victorian opener Marcus Harris was actually likewise included in the Test team in 2013, however in a similar way befalled of favor due to his drab five-star functionalities, while Nic Maddinson has actually remained in excellent Sheffield Cover form.Cameron Bancroft of Western Australia. Image by Last Will And Testament Russell/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesHowever, must a specialist opener be required for the Perth Test against India, home town hero Cameron Bancroft is actually a leading candidate.The West Australian has resided in brilliant type in the Sheffield Defense over the last 24 months, putting together 1728 go for 54.00 during that time frame, consisting of 10 hundreds.Bancroft has a wide range of adventure versus the brand-new ball as well as would certainly be actually fully equipped to take care of Indian quicks Jasprit Bumrah and also Mohammad Siraj this summer months." Versus an even more traditional Test match attack like India I prefer to select a conventional opener," Border carried on." I would certainly go back to Bancroft. I am actually gratifying performance." I'm not visiting mention I pity Bancroft, however you may as well certainly not worry about having a Sheffield Shield competitors if you do not reward its own leading entertainers.".