Ian Chappell says it would be ‘stupid’ for Australia to open the batting with Marnus Labuschagne for the first Ashes Test against England.
The sense of anticipation and excitement is palpable heading into this winter’s series between the two age-old rivals, with Ben Stokes’ England fancying their chances of a rare victory Down Under.
The Baggy Greens have won 90 of the 172 matches played on home soil going back through history and not since 1987 have England come out on top in a series in Australia.
But while the visitors have landed on a largely settled starting XI for the tour, Australia head into the opening contest with question marks hanging over several selection decisions – not helped by injuries to captain Pat Cummins and fellow quick Josh Hazlewood.
The hosts are also yet to confirm who will be chosen to open the batting alongside veteran Usman Khawaja, who is in line to make his 85th Test appearance in Perth.
The uncapped Jake Weatherald has been knocking on the door for some time and appears the leading candidate for the coveted spot thanks to a strong run of form in Australia’s Sheffield Shield.
But there have been some calls for a resurgent Labuschagne to be given the nod to add some experience and nous at the top of the order, with England expected to name a an all-pace attack at Optus Stadium on Friday.
Asked if Weatherald should open the batting, ex-Australia captain Chappell told Nine’s Wide World of Sports: ‘Well I hope so, mainly because I would like to see Labuschagne at three.
‘If he [Labuschagne] is back playing the way that he should play, rather than the way that he was playing, then he’s a number three.
‘At his best he’s a very good number three so I think it would be stupid to try and open with him, in which case you would have to open with Weatherald.’
According to Chappell, stand-in skipper Steve Smith is ‘comfortably’ Australia’s best batter and – not for the first time – a potential thorn in the side for England.
‘He’s not the type of fellow who you would say to your son, “Go and follow him”, because not many people can play like Steve Smith and play as well as he does,’ Chappell added.
‘But he’s comfortably the best batsman in the Australian side and he’s a damn good player.
‘That’s why England would want to get him out there as early as possible. The sooner you can get at him, the greater your chances of getting him out.
‘If he’s going to be coming in at 150-2, England could be chasing plenty of runs.’
While Chappell is hoping Australia open with Weatherall, former England captain Michael Vaughan has an altogether different view – naming Mitchell Marsh as the hosts’ most well-equipped option for the position.
This is despite the fact Marsh was left out of Australia’s squad for the first Test, with the 34-year-old all-rounder joking that he would probably be ‘six beers deep by lunch on day one’ in Perth.
‘I would open with Mitchell Marsh if I was Australia,’ Vaughan said on The Overlap Cricket.
‘Two reasons: he’s in good form and I think Usman Khawaja needs a partner who can get on the front foot.
‘I saw Marsh face Mark Wood when Wood was bowling as quick as I’ve seen anyone bowl in recent times and he bopped him.
‘Wood, a few months ago, actually said that the one bowler he hated bowling to was Mitchell Marsh.
‘The Aussies need someone to try and get on top of Jofra Archer early. If they allow Archer to get off to a start and get a bit of confidence then he will grow and grow.
‘I would be very tempted, if I was Australia, to throw Mitchell Marsh at the top.’
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