Chair of selectors George Bailey confirmed that his panel had chosen the “best six batters” in Australia rather than picking an experienced opener, something the panel had long been planning to do.
“Cameron Green will come into the playing XI for the Test in Adelaide in a squad also containing Scott Boland and Matthew Renshaw,” Bailey said. “We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country.
“Scott Boland and Matt Renshaw will join the squad prior to the first Test after playing for the Melbourne Stars [on January 15] and Brisbane Heat [on January 13] in the BBL.”
The decision is set to cause a stir with division amongst former players and fans about who should be Warner’s replacement with many, including Ricky Ponting, Justin Langer and Michael Hussey, believing Bancroft should have been rewarded based on being the leading runscorer in Sheffield Shield cricket as an opener across the last two seasons.
The debate on who should open the batting between Green and Smith is equally divisive with team-mate Marnus Labuschagne believing Smith should do it given his keenness for a new challenge, while others believe the selectors should change as little as possible and simply plug Green in at the top of the order despite never opening the batting in first-class cricket.
Australia squad for first Test vs West Indies
Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc
