Former Australian middle-order batter Michael Hussey said that Mitchell Marsh will find it tough to replace David Warner at the top of the order in the longer format. Instead, he believes a traditional opener should replace Warner. With Warner likely to retire from the longer format after the ongoing series against Pakistan, Cricket Australia are already in search of candidates. Mitch Marsh emerged as a probable opener but said that taking up the role “doesn’t make sense” to him.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hussey said as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo: “Opening is one of the toughest jobs in the game. So for me personally, if I was selecting, I’d be going for a traditional, proper opener. Someone who has done it for a long period of time. I’m not saying you can’t do it, and maybe someone could evolve into doing that role. But I think it would be difficult for a player like Mitch Marsh or someone – I know there’s been talk about him going up the order. I think he’s probably more suited, much like Travis Head, to be in the middle-order. I think that’d be the best for the balance of the Australian team.”

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However, the leading players to open the innings are Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, and Marcus Harris. While Bancroft and Renshaw have scored runs in first-class cricket, Harris did well in the recent practice match against Pakistan. Michael Hussey also hopes that the selectors allow players who have been dominating the Sheffield Shield competition as well.

“I like whoever’s dominating the level below, who’s been dominating in Sheffield Shield cricket over a period of time, and to be fair, they all have at various stages. So it’s a tough job for the selectors. I don’t want to stand here and say it should be this guy or this guy. I hope that they reward the guy that’s been performing very well at Sheffield Shield cricket. I think that sends a great message to the competition,” Michael Hussey concluded.