Aussie Test-turned commentary legend Kerry O’Keeffe has declared it’s time for Australian selectors to blood new talent in the batting line-up.
Having watched the Bangladesh batters boss the Aussie bowlers for the better part of a day and a half, Jake Weatherald, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne all fell in poor fashion on Saturday.
Steve Smith battled to 44 before spooning a return catch to Mehidy Hasan Miraz, but has been far and away the best of the Aussie batters in this Test.
But for Weatherald, the manner in which he fell could mean his homecoming Test is his last – at least for now.
“The opening position talk will probably be raised again and I think we’ve got to start blooding some youngsters as well. I think that’s important,” he told foxsports.com.au.
“(We need to know) what the Australian selectors want? What do they want? Do they want Travis Head to stay there for the rest of his career? Because, at the other end, if there’s no runs being scored by Jake, who do they bring in? Do they just bring in a completely different pair?
“If Cam Green doesn’t score runs, does Travis said go down the order? And they put in two new openers? They’re just some of the things in the background that I think they’ve got to work out.”
This series against the Tigers was expected to be an easy win for the hosts. On Thursday, former skipper Ricky Ponting was heavily critical of the decision not to blood some fresh talent in this series.
Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway are both viewed as long-term prospects at the top of the order, but throwing them to the sharks in the upcoming series against South Africa and the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje isn’t viewed as a favourable option.
Jake Weatherald was out for a third-ball duck on day three. Getty Images