IND vs AUS: Matthew Hayden Questions Australia Selectors Handling of Opener Slot Post David Warner Retirement

Ahead of the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, former opening batter Matthew Hayden has questioned Australia selectors' handling of the vacant Test opener slot post David Warner's retirement.

The Australian selectors used Steve Smith in the opener's slot earlier this year during the series against New Zealand. But have found themselves stuck in an conundrum after Smith was restored into the middle order.

The Australians had plenty of options for the India vs Australia series in the form of Sam Konastas, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, but the selectors decided to hand young Nathan McSweeney his Test debut alongside Usman Khawaja.

Reacting to the squad selection, Hayden said the Australia selectors "backed themselves into a corner," which led to them picking up a non-specialist opener for the much-awaited Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.

McSweeney, who usually features in the number three spot, will walk into an unknown territory when he steps up in Perth to open alongside Khawaja. Before giving his take on McSweeney's selection, Hayden opened up about promoting Smith to the opening slot.

After David Warner had his last dance in Test cricket in January, Smith made his case to open for Australia, but the run-machine could only garner 171 runs at 28.50, making it much more of a forgettable run.

"This is exactly my point and why I disagreed with Steve Smith opening the batting. It wasn't a slight on Steve Smith's career. It was more of a plea and call to action around the [domestic] system itself," he said, as quoted from The Sydney Morning Herald.

"Now the Australian selectors have done exactly what I thought was going to happen, and that was back themselves into a corner, knowing that you had T20s and one-dayers right through the early part of 2024 and zero Test match cricket."

With McSweeney entering the fray, at least for the series opener, Hayden was quick to point out the lack of first-class cricket, and the former cricketer also sympathised with Harris and Bancroft, who have been ingnored.

"There has been very little first-class cricket and two Australia A games where they chopped and changed the opening batters. There wasn't one [sizeable] opening partnership," Hayden added.

"Can you imagine how Marcus Harris is feeling right now? He's carried the drinks forever and been the incumbent opening batsman, and Bancroft is the same. We just didn't allow ourselves the luxury of enough time to select on the basis of weight of runs.

"It's something which, if you want to quote [my situation], banging down the door was almost an understatement. They were record-breaking years."

During the buildup of the BGT series, India A and Australia A played two unofficial Tests, allowing both sides to look at probable in case of an unwanted situation. In both games, Australia A opener failed to put up a stand big in number.

McSweeney was among those players who were asked to take a swing at the opening slot.
After hammering an unbeaten 88 in his usual spot, the youngster was promoted to the top of the order in the second unofficial Test. But the decision was up to no avail.

The youngster failed to replicate the success he had during the first outing. During his time as an opener, McSweeney could only post 14 and 25 across both innings. Harris, on the other hand, made a useful 74 in the second unofficial Test.

As questions continue to linger about Australia's new-looking opening pair, Hayden only hopes that McSweeney delivers in one of the most challenging Test series.

"I wouldn't have had it any other way because I became a better player. It's fantastic that Nathan gets his opportunity, and God I hope he bangs down the door at Test match level," Hayden said.