Renshaw or Khawaja? Australia undecided about openers' slot

Renshaw or Khawaja? Australia undecided about openers' slot

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Australian coach Darren Lehmann has said that he is still unsure about who to pick between Matt Renshaw and Usman Khawaja for the first Test of the four-match series against India. The 47-year-old also ruled out the possibility of in-form batsman Shaun Marsh opening the innings for the Aussies.

Khawaja has ended the South Africa series as the leading run-scorer, and in the following series against Pakistan, he again showed impressive form to score 267 in five innings. But the youngster's poor performance in the subcontinent when they toured Sri Lanka - where Khwaja managed only 55 runs in four innings - appears to be tilting the scales against him.

In the series against Pakistan, Australia appear to have discovered the talents of 20-year-old Matt Renshaw, who scored an impressive 184 in the Sydney Test. 

It is widely believed that the Australian chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns sees Renshaw as the long-term opening partner for David Warner. The youngster was picked ahead of the experienced Khawaja for the warm-up game at the Brabourne Stadium but he could only manage a combined score of 21 runs in his two innings.

"It's a tight call between probably him and Usman, I would think," Lehmann said, reported The West Australian.

"We'll have to make that decision when we get closer to the Test.

"We're pretty settled on what we want, but we need to wait until we get there and see the wicket."

There is, however, a third option available to the Australians - playing Shaun Marsh at the top of the innings. Marsh was given the opening role in the last Test against Sri Lanka, where he scored 130 in a losing cause but Lehmann dismissed the idea stating that Marsh and Steve Smith "would float between three and four".

Talking about spin bowling, Lehmann said that he was pleased on both fronts praising Mitch Marsh for his ability to play on a spinning wicket and the preparation of the spinners ahead of the much-awaited tour. 

"He (Mitch Marsh) batted really well for us in Sri Lanka to be fair, he was one of our better batters," Lehmann said.

"We've been impressed with the way he plays spin bowling.

"I'm pleased with the way the spinners are going. It's going to be a challenge bowling here, but they're on the right path."

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