The two-match four-day series between India A and Australia A will see Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, Matthew Renshaw and teenager Sam Konstas be in a race to see who opens alongside Usman Khawaja in the all-important five-match series starting on November 22 in Perth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think anytime we\u2019re picking a Test team in particular, I think we\u2019re picking the best team for here and now and if that does encompass a younger player, then we\u2019ll head down that direction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"We\u2019ve got a shield game to come, we\u2019ve got a couple of Australia A games, so that competition for opening spots is still well and truly open. We\u2019re big believers in not having to make a decision at the selection panel until we have to, and that will be made at the end of the second Australia A game,\" said McDonald to ABC TV's Offsiders show on Sunday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He also indicated that if none of the opening contenders put their hand up for selection to the Test team, the side won\u2019t shy away from converting a middle-order batter into an opener, citing previous examples of Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Matthew Wade.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I like when they\u2019ve had experience in the position they are playing in, but historically across Australian cricket, we\u2019ve had some great success in elevating middle-order players - namely Simon Katich, Shane Watson. These circumstances aren\u2019t unique to this team at this point in time either.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"Thinking back to the last series against India, Matthew Wade was elevated to the opening position from the middle-order and the series before Aaron Finch opened the batting as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think it\u2019s working out what\u2019s best for the team and also with those middle-order players; sometimes they\u2019re batting three and four for their States because they are the best players and they don\u2019t fill the opening slot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"So, are they capable of opening? I believe that sometimes they are. It\u2019s really getting a good feel on whether that technique they have and the mindset they go about their work in can cope with the demands of opening in Test cricket.\"<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\"I think it\u2019s working out what\u2019s best for the team and also with those middle-order players; sometimes they\u2019re batting three and four for their States because they are the best players and they don\u2019t fill the opening slot.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Also Read: <\/b> Highest tax paying cricketers<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n