3 minute read

David Warner hung up his bat following Australia’s exit from the T20 World Cup, and now all eyes will be on the selectors to see how they replace him.

Warner is a player that has divided opinion throughout his career, but there is no denying that he is one of the greatest Australian batsmen to play the game.

The statistics say it all, Warner has starred at the very top of Australia's batting order for years, and now his boots need filling.

It will take some doing, and in some ways you pity the player that has to step into Warner's shoes.

The good news is, there is no shortage of talent ready to take up the challenge and give it a red hot crack.

Let's take a look at how Australia will set about replacing David Warner.

 Opening for the Test side 

As far as opening the batting for the Test side, the decision has already been made, and for now Steve Smith has the job.

In the Test matches at the start of 2024, Smith was handed the job of opening the batting with Usman Khawaja, with mixed results.

Scores of 11, 12 and 6 sparked debate about whether Smith was the man to open the batting.

However he bounced back and answered the critics in fine style with 91 not-out in his second innings of the second Test against West Indies.

He failed to shine in two Test matches against New Zealand but Smith's position of opening the batting in the Test side will be safe for now.

Even so Australia do have plenty of options should they wish to mix things up.

Players such as Marcus Harris, Cameron Green, Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw are all waiting in the wings.

There is no shortage of talent there and Australia are in good hands when it comes to Test cricket.

 One Day Internationals 

When it comes to white-ball cricket, Australia have heaps of options to replace Warner.

Australia had three One Day Internationals against the West Indies at the start of the year and on each occasion Josh Inglis opened the batting.

The Perth Scorchers ace had a couple of different partners though, with Travis Head joining him at the top of the order in the first match.

Head made just four runs before the selectors decided he needed to take a break following a heavy schedule.

Jake Fraser-McGurk stepped in and made 10 and 41 runs respectively in the next two matches to give the selectors plenty of food for thought.

There is a good chance Head could return to the top of the order when Australia take on England and Scotland later this year.

 T20 internationals 

Australia now have a decision to make on who replaces Warner for the T20 internationals.

Travis Head has cemented his place at the top of the order and now Australia have to decide who opens with him.

Their squad will soon be announced for the matches against England and Scotland, and the selectors have some thinking to do.

Again it looks as though Fraser-McGurk is in the box seat for the job. Warner himself has said the swashbuckling batsman is the perfect man to replace him.

Fraser-McGurk impressed in the Big Bash League and should have no issues transferring that form to the international stage.