Joe Root is set for an Ashes demotion in Brisbane, with the opener bumped down to No.5 for England’s tour match against Australia A in Hobart.
Michael Carberry, a 33-year-old one-Test wonder, has emerged as the favourite to open for England in the first Test after being given the nod to partner captain Alastair Cook for the four-day Ashes warm-up match which started on Wednesday.
At lunch on day one, England were 0-91 from 31 overs after winning the toss, with Cook 53 not out and Carberry unbeaten on 35.
Root is due in at No.5 with run-machine Ian Bell rested from the match.
England have reacted to a poor showing by their top three during the UK Ashes Tour in the winter, with Root the victim.
On six occasions, England were three down for less than 65 runs and, aside from a big 180 at Lord’s, Root struggled against Australian quicks Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle.
Shane Warne said on Monday that Root would be “crucified” if he was picked to open.
However, Root is one of the most promising young batsmen in Test cricket, averaging 40 with two centuries from just 11 matches.
He has an outstanding county record as an opener for Yorkshire.
The 22-year-old is a certainty to play somewhere in the team, but England’s decision to protect him lower in the order will test the confidence of a self-assured young cricketer.
Another other possible motivation for a move down the order is England’s inability to settle on a viable No.6.
Jonny Bairstow was a weak link during the last Ashes before being dropped for the fifth Test, and Gary Ballance made a golden duck in England’s tour opener against a Western Australia second XI last week.
Carberry outscored Root against the WA XI, making 78, and England still have one more tour match before the Brisbane Test, against an Invitation XI in Sydney starting next Wednesday.
Cook – who missed last week with a back complaint – has an ideal chance to find form and Carberry a golden ticket into the Test team, with Australia A fielding a weakened bowling attack featuring just two recognised seamers and allrounder Moises Henriques.
NSW quick Trent Copeland did the majority of the bowling with figures of 0-25 from 11 overs, and beat the outside edge of Cook and Carberry early on.
Queensland pace bowler Ben Cutting has 0-10 from seven overs.
Henriques only returned from the one-day tour of India on Monday.
Spinners Jon Holland and Glenn Maxwell haven’t looked like making a breakthrough.
Meanwhile, Chris Tremlett could have the inside running for the vacant position in the England pace attack, with the veteran picked alongside stars James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the Hobart match.
