Ricky Ponting has floated the possibility of moving Travis Head up the order this summer as Australian selectors weigh-up the batting order for the Ashes.
With less than two months until the five-game series starts in Perth, all eyes will be on who the Aussies run with in their batting order.
As it stands, there are likely three absolute certainties in the top six – Head, Steve Smith and Cameron Green – while the opening pairing is expected to stay the same with Sam Konstas set to face the new ball alongside veteran Usman Khawaja.
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Cameron Green Getty
Beau Webster, who impressed in his early Test outings, is the front-runner to take a spot in the middle order against England – most likely in the No.6 spot.
That make-up would see Marnus Labuschagne miss out on a recall, while the likes of Jason Sangha and Jake Weatherald will more than likely be overlooked.
Speaking on SEN on Monday morning, former captain Ponting admitted that it was “too late” for selectors to start shaking things up before the first ball on November 21.
“Everyone’s been talking about how crucial these first four Sheffield Shield games are, particularly for some of our top order batters and I agree with that,” he said.
“But I also feel that it’s probably got almost to the point where it’s too late to be making too many big wholesale changes to the current team going into an Ashes series.
“Konstas has obviously just done well. He made a hundred for Australia A over in India, which is exactly what he needed. I can see our top order being Konstas and Khawaja.
Sam Konstas. Getty
“I think the fact that they’ve moved Green up to No.3 in the Caribbean probably suggests to me that they see him as that long-term.
“Smith will stay at four, Head at five and then I would keep Beau at six. I can’t see how they could leave Beau out of the side and keep some of the other guys in.
“That’s the way that I’m sort of looking at it.”
While that top six is what most smart judges are leaning towards, Ponting believes that Head is a potential option higher up due to his experience.
The other part of Head’s game that entices Ponting in regards to a switch is the fact that the left-hander takes the game on and can go on the attack from the outset as opposed to Green, who builds his innings a little more slowly early on.
Travis Head Getty
“[That is] the other thing I thought they could do if they were worried about that [Green batting at three] at all,” Ponting said.
“Head is the second most established player in that line-up. The natural progression for players of that sort of age … you usually come into the side as a No.5 or No.6 player and eventually you’d work your way up and find yourself in a No.3 slot.
“They could think about doing that. With the way England play their cricket, to have someone like Travis Head coming in at No.3 and be able to put some pressure back on the likes of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood and these guys … that’s another way they could look at it if they really want to get on the front foot and try and dominate England.”
The other selection concern for George Bailey and the rest of the panel centres around skipper Pat Cummins, who is no certainty of being fit for the first Test.
Pat Cummins PA Images via Getty Images
Cummins is dealing with a back issue and remains in doubt, but is confident of featuring during the Ashes on home soil.
Should he be ruled out, Scott Boland would be the logical selection as the third seamer to join Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
Australia’s likely team for first Test
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Cam Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins*, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon