Sydney: Australia coach Mickey Arthur has said the selectors are still pondering over the right opening partnership for the team in the fifty over format ahead of their five match one-day series against England, starting on Friday at Lord’s.
Arthur said the selectors were still trying to strike the ‘perfect balance’ in terms of working out who should take guard for the start of the innings alongside David Warner.
Shane Watson and Matthew Wade have both partnered Warner since the wicketkeeper”s one-day international debut four months ago in Australia, but Arthur has admitted he was keen to nail down a combination.
“We”d like some consistency for our batters so they know where they”re going to bat. But the batters know from my conversations with them that they know what”s expected. They know what roles they”re going to play,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted Arthur, as saying.
Watson opened in all five one-day matches in the Caribbean against the West Indies, but Wade was preferred for the tour opener in Leicester.
The left-hander made a solid 32 against Leicestershire with Watson in line to open in the rain-ruined clash against Ireland in Belfast.
Arthur suggested the fitness of Australia”s Twenty20 captain George Bailey (groin niggle) would determine whether Watson or Wade opens for the first match of the five-game series.
If Bailey is fit and selected then Wade will play at the top of the order, and if not, then Peter Forrest will come in. Wade will slide down the order to play a finishing role at the end of the innings.
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