With David Warner retiring from Test cricket, the second opening spot in the Australian cricket team is up for grabs. This has led former cricketers and experts to suggest the names of Cam Green and Steve Smith, neither of whom has opened the innings in first-class cricket.
Talking to Perth radio station 6PR about who should occupy Warner’s spot, former Australian head coach Justin Langer vehemently opposed the idea of Cam Green or Steve Smith becoming openers.
“I hope they don’t open with him. He hasn’t opened before. The only reason he is in the discussion about it is that the Australian team and selectors obviously want to get him into the team. But sometimes you have to wait. I believe you have to have a specialist opener,” Langer said.
Langer further added that Australia had previously made these forced decisions with Aaron Finch and Matthew Wade, neither of which worked out.
“We tried this with Matthew Wade. We tried this with Aaron Finch, who selflessly did it for the team. And I am sure Cameron Green or Steve Smith might do that. But I believe with India coming over next year and then the Ashes in Australia, the sooner they get into a specialist opener, the better, because it is a very specialised position,” the former head coach concluded.
