Australia’s selectors have opted against picking a specialist opener to replace David Warner, confirming Cameron Green will play the Adelaide Test against West Indies.
Selectors announced their 13-man squad for the two-Test series on Wednesday, ahead of the first Test which begins in Adelaide on January 17.
There is still no formal confirmation on who will open in place of the retired Warner, but Steve Smith is expected to bat alongside Usman Khawaja, with Green to slot into the side at number four.
Matt Renshaw and Scott Boland have also been added to the squad, but will join the group late and likely act as back-up batters and bowlers.
“Cameron Green will come into the playing XI for the Test in Adelaide,” chief selector George Bailey said.
“We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country.”
That desire to pick the half-dozen leading batsmen and get all-rounder Green back into the team led selectors to decide against a specialist opener.
When Warner announced his retirement plans back in June, it was expected the race to replace him was between Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft.
Bancroft has since piled on the most runs in the Sheffield Shield, backing up last summer’s big season for Western Australia when he also topped the charts.
But in Green Australia’s selectors see a generational talent, who also provides a genuine fifth fast-bowling option alongside Mitch Marsh and the three quicks.
Green’s return comes after he was squeezed out of the team during last year’s Ashes when Marsh scored a century while filling in for him at Headingley.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has warned against moving Smith up to opener to allow Green to bat at number four, concerned the switch would cause too much disruption to the order.
Neither of the pair have previously opened in Test cricket, but Smith has put his hand up for the challenge late in his career.
Green’s addition to the team is likely to be the only change to the XI that beat Pakistan 3-0 to start the Test summer.
AAP