Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Has Australia solved its opener crisis?
Nicholas Quinlan • November 23rd, 2025 3:08 am
Has Australia managed to answer the selection question that has been plaguing them for nearly two years?
Well, it appears they might have done by accident following Travis Head’s move up the order for the injured Usman Khawaja in the hosts’ eight-wicket win in the First Test against England at Perth Stadium on Saturday.
Since David Warner’s retirement at the start of 2024, Australia has tried various solutions to fill the hole that the attacking left-hander left.
At first, Steve Smith decided to move from his favoured No. 4 position in the order to No. 1 against the West Indies and then New Zealand, but only managed to average 21.37 throughout the eight innings he played.
Then, the Australian selectors have proceeded to place Nathan McSweeney, Sam Konstas and Marnus Labuschagne to partner Usman Khawaja, with all three of them struggling to find their groove.
Head would also be given a go at opening during their tour to Sri Lanka, but that was not viewed with the long-term goal of trying to find an opener, but merely to help deal with the new ball on the sub-continent, which he had previously excelled in.
But with Khawaja coming off the ground during England’s second innings following lower back spasms, it meant that he was unable to open at the start of Australia's second innings and resulted in the South Australian opening for the first time in the Test format on home soil.
And in his first opportunity, he did not disappoint with the reigning Allan Border Medallist belting out 123 off 83 balls in an innings which helped Australia cruise to the target of 205 runs within a single session before the end of Day 2.
Weatherald, in his debut, also fared much better compared to his first innings duck, having managed to make 23 runs off 34 balls as he looked far more at ease and showed some of the attacking nature that he has displayed for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield.
Following the close of play, SEN’s Gerard Whateley asked Simon Katich and Damien Fleming as to who should now open the batting for Australia for the Day/Night Test in Brisbane, with both now believing that it should be Head and Weatherald following their performances in the second innings.
Katich: “Travis Head and Jake Weatherald.”
Fleming: “Same with me.”
“You cannot change that.”
“That was exhilarating and good signs from Jake Weatherald that we can actually have a two-pronged attack.
“Because he’s a very fluent scorer. Give them time to bat together.
Whateley: “In crisis, came the answer, didn’t it?”
“After so long of searching around.”
“Kudos to those who have been sending it through for a couple of years, which has been pleading for Travis Head as the answer.”
“He is the answer. It was the first thing that Australia ruled out; they wanted their match winner at five.”
“Well, you can still have your match winner at one as it turns out.”
Fleming: “And also found a traditional opener too in Jake Weatherald.”
The Second Test match will take place at the Gabba on December 4, with SEN having LIVE action of every ball bowled throughout the series.
