"Super aggressive like David Warner" Brett Lee names Mitchell Marsh as opening option for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25

Mitchell Marsh is one of the opening options for Australia as Steve Smith returns to No. 4.

David Warner’s test retirement left the Australian team with big shoes to fill at the top of the order. They tried to do it with Steve Smith but that experiment largely failed and he is set to return to his preferred No. 4 spot.

Now with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India at home impending, Australia are in search of a reliable opener to pair with Usman Khawaja.

In four tests as an opener, Smith averaged only 28 with one fifty in eight innings. Recently, Australia’s chief selector George Bailey confirmed that Smith would not be opening against India, saying that Smith “had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position”. 

So, who will open the innings for Australia against India? There are a few options within the team and outside that the Aussies have at their disposal.

Former Australia speedster Brett Lee has recommended the name of Mitchell Marsh to open the innings.

Implement “Bison-ball”: Lee explains reason behind suggesting Mitchell Marsh as opener

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 will get underway on November 22, with the first test taking place at Perth Stadium. Ahead of the series, Lee advocated the promotion of Mitchell Marsh to the opening role against India.

In an interaction on the Fox Cricket podcast, The Follow On, Lee indicated how successful the aggressive style of play in test cricket has been for England and India. He said that Australia should also adapt it and promote Marsh to the top, who is an aggressive batter like Warner.

Lee said, “The concept may sound a bit outlandish, but if we consider the impact of ‘Bazball’, why not implement ‘Bison Ball’?“

The former pacer stated, “If Australia can overpower India in just one Test, and if Mitchell Marsh can deliver, even once out of five Tests, it could swing the series in our favor. This approach could mirror the aggressive batting style that David Warner brought to the top of the order.”

However, Marsh recently banished the thought, saying he was comfortable at No. 6. Marsh said, “I’m enjoying my contributions there. Changing that at this stage seems counterproductive.”

Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw are the openers who have done well in domestic cricket and have previously been part of the Australian side.

It will be interesting to see who will open with Khawaja in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25.

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