Source : ABC NEWS
Australia has chopped and changed the batting order a few times of late, with a rotating cast of middle order batters tried and discarded up top.
Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has led the calls for the team’s selectors to stop changing it up and to let the players settle in fixed roles, despite some questionable returns in Durban.
“They’ve got to pick and stick now,” Waugh said.
“Don’t mess around with that now. [Renshaw] has been successful, and he’s comfortable, so I’d keep him there, for sure.”
Makeshift opener Travis Head scored just 9 and 11 at Kingsmead, with the returning Nic Maddinson managing a 50-minute, 33-ball duck before a far improved 48 in the second innings.
Meanwhile, Matt Renshaw, who has opened for Australia and Queensland in the past, totalled match-winning scores of 190 and 82 at number five.
“It’s got to be pretty compelling to move him [Renshaw] from there,” Pat Cummins said after the first Test.
“We’re always working out the six batters, or seven plus [Alex Carey] and how is that going to function as a whole?
“I still think he [Renshaw] can be a great opener … we’re pretty certain that we like Marn [Labuschagne] at number 3, Smithy at number 4, and then, the six and seven felt pretty locked up.
“I think bringing in Maddo, we really like the idea of bringing that flexibility, that unlocks a lot [such as] Trav back to number 5, Renners down to number 5, even Maddo himself at five.
“We haven’t had that option [in] the last few years where we feel like we’ve got plenty of options at the top.
“We’re very big on that flexibility. I think having the structure that we do now with a few guys that can open, that’s really unlocked that.”
Matthew Wade said the players were happy to be flexible.
“If the conditions tell us it’s time to change the batting order, we’ll make that change,” he said.
“We’ve seen over the last little bit that we’ve been able to adapt really quickly and more importantly the players take it on so easily – and credit to them.”
