For a batting order that’s resembled a game of musical chairs over the past few years, it’s a rare moment that the music has stopped and every Australian in the top six has found their seats with a degree of certainty.
Australia’s batsmen all bring recent form into the Ashes series, with Michael Clarke the only top-order member heading into the first Test without a hundred.
Openers Chris Rogers and David Warner made brilliant centuries for Victoria and NSW respectively at the MCG, and Steve Smith also notched a timely first-class ton for the Blues in the Sheffield Shield match.
Even though Australia would have preferred Shane Watson to be playing Shield cricket instead of nursing a hamstring strain, at least the Test No.3 made a fine one-day international (ODI) hundred in India.
As did George Bailey, the man most likely to fill the vacant No.6 position in Brisbane.
Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin hasn’t scored many runs of late, but he’ll get a chance this week for NSW against Queensland, while back-up allrounder James Faulkner has a maiden ODI ton scored in India to take confidence from should he be called upon.
Clarke is likely to be rested from NSW’s Shield game against the Bulls starting on Wednesday, but he’s got an 88 under his belt from the opening round first-class match against Tasmania which will keep him happy 11 days out from the Gabba.
Australia suffered withering batting collapses in the first, second and fourth Test matches on their Ashes tour of the UK in the winter.
It was no coincidence that it was those matches which sealed the 3-0 series loss.
A stable batting line-up has been Australia’s biggest weakness on winless Test tours of England and India this year, and stealing back the urn is a hopeless cause unless consistency can be found with the willow.
It all starts with the openers – and Rogers and Warner are confident.
“It’s good to get out there and score runs and it’s good to see Chris Rogers (88 and 117) scoring runs as well,” Warner said.
“We know the type of player he is and we always talk about it. He’s a person who has a lot of character, someone who just grinds it out and scores big runs.”
Clarke said Warner, who hasn’t made a Test hundred in a year, was perfectly positioned for a return to form.
“He’s played beautifully. He’s scored four hundreds in a month and it doesn’t matter what form of the game it’s, you’re in good nick,” Clarke said.