Australia's top-order batters begin Ashes shootout

It's not often England onshore successful Australia for an Ashes bid pinch a much settled apical bid than their hosts.

Yet specified is England's readying for this winter, they caput down nether pinch a apical six that has, for nan astir part, stayed together ever since caput coach Brendon McCullum took charge.

Australia do not person specified luxuries: they person struggled to find personification to switch opener David Warner, while number 3 has been a problem position for a while.

It's been much than 2 years since an Australian scored a Test period astatine first drop: Marnus Labuschagne's 111 against England astatine Old Trafford successful nan astir caller Ashes series.

"It doesn't onslaught maine for illustration nan batting line-ups I came up against," said erstwhile England spinner Phil Tufnell.

"All awesome sides person a coagulated opening business pinch a number 3 who is nan champion subordinate successful nan side.

"If England tin get nan wood complete that opening partnership, it doesn't half make a difference. This is simply a somewhat susceptible batting line-up."

It intends places are up for grabs, surely successful nan apical three, erstwhile nan Sheffield Shield, Australia's four-day authorities competition, originates overnight.

BBC Sport looks astatine nan candidates to statement up against England successful that first Test successful Perth connected 21 November.

Khawaja, who is group to play successful his seventh Ashes series, will move 39 during nan 3rd Test but is seen arsenic nan glue astatine nan apical of nan Australian batting order.

While not arsenic prolific successful caller years, he started nan twelvemonth by scoring a double period against Sri Lanka successful Galle to underline his position arsenic Australia's starring subordinate against spin.

Travis Head, Steve Smith, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney and Labuschagne person each been tried arsenic openers but nary person proven to beryllium successful capable to enactment there.

Head and Smith are now backmost successful much acquainted middle-order roles and will beryllium expected to people large runs against England, while 20-year-old Konstas averaged conscionable 8.33 successful 3 Tests against West Indies aft a promising commencement to his Test profession against India past winter.

A period for Australia A earlier this period whitethorn boost Konstas' claim.

But if not Konstas, past who?

This is wherever we commencement throwing retired much acquainted names from Ashes past: nan likes of Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw. Another action would beryllium uncapped 30-year-old Jake Weatherald, who crunched 183 successful a high-scoring tie against Sri Lanka A successful July.

Former Australia wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell, however, would spell left-field and prime Leeds-born Josh Inglis, who has batted successful nan mediate bid successful his erstwhile 3 Tests.

"Since Warner's gone, we person mislaid mojo astatine nan apical of nan order," said Campbell.

"I would spell pinch Josh Inglis, who bats down nan bid but has opened successful T20 cricket and has opened arsenic a youngster.

"I was fortunate capable to spot him arsenic a 14-year-old astatine my nine and I cognize he's from England but he speaks bully Aussie now.

"He attacks and erstwhile Australia play well, we onslaught and don't conscionable defend.

"If you're going to return a bet connected someone, here's a kid who has played tons of world cricket. Yes, he's batted a spot down nan bid but he's sewage a beautiful method and tin whack it."

Interestingly, only 2 batters - existent Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey and Jason Sangha - averaged much than Inglis' 72.6 for Western Australia successful nan Shield past season.

In Perth, albeit astatine nan Waca and not nan Optus Stadium, wherever nan first Test will beryllium held, Inglis averaged 99 and scored heavy quadrate of nan wicket (22% either side).

For his part, Sangha captained South Australia to glory pinch a match-winning period successful nan Shield final.

With Steve Smith astatine number 4 and Travis Head astatine five, Australia look to person a coagulated and unchangeable motor room.

However, they are yet to find an established number 3 who tin soak up unit aliases build connected a ascendant foundation.

After a run-laden commencement to his career, Labuschagne, 31, appears to person dropped retired of favour, though a bully commencement to nan home play could alteration his fortunes.

McSweeney, who made his Test debut arsenic an opener against India past wintertime earlier being replaced by Konstas, appears nan man nan selectors fancy fixed he batted location successful nan caller India A series.

The 26-year-old right-hander impressed successful nan 2nd of nan two-match series, which India won 1-0, pinch scores of 74 and 85 not out.

He could, of course, beryllium considered arsenic an opener too. That would unfastened nan doorway for nan likes of Marcus Harris, who scored much than 1,000 runs for Lancashire successful nan 2nd section of nan County Championship this summertime astatine an mean of 60.

Perhaps nan astir apt campaigner to measurement up is all-rounder Cameron Green, which would let Australia to besides play Beau Webster astatine six - boosting their seam-bowling options and taking immoderate of nan unit disconnected nan likes of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, who whitethorn each beryllium playing their last Ashes series.

Green, 26, averaged much than 50 successful 2024 and is approaching his champion years pinch 32 caps to his name.

"I deliberation Cameron Green is an astonishing cricketer," said Campbell. "Once he starts bowling again, he adds different magnitude for Australia."

Green batted astatine first driblet successful nan World Test Championship last against South Africa astatine Lord's, and past successful 3 Tests against West Indies this summer.

On difficult pitches, he impressed successful nan Caribbean, passing 40 successful 3 of his 5 innings.

If we look astatine individual batting records successful nan Sheffield Shield past summertime connected Test grounds successful Australia (Adelaide Oval, Gabba, MCG and SCG), 32-year-old Kurtis Patterson (383 runs astatine 63.8) stands retired for runs scored, pinch nan highest mean belonging to Queensland's uncapped left-hander Jack Clayton (285 runs astatine 71.3).

It each adds up to an intriguing fewer weeks successful Australian home cricket, and erstwhile Australia's white-ball squad look New Zealand and India. Follow nan action via BBC Sport's scorecard work here.