Last Updated on 2 months by Charbel Coorey

Australia’s batting headaches have grown after the latest day of Sheffield Shield action. It is still not clear who partners Usman Khawaja at the top, with a host of leading candidates registering low scores.

After a pair in the opening game of the season, Cameron Bancroft scored eight in the first innings against Tasmania. Matt Renshaw’s lean start to the campaign continued with two against South Australia. Marcus Harris was dismissed twice by Mitchell Starc at the MCG, making scores of 26 and 16.

19-year-old Sam Konstas, who became the youngest since Ricky Ponting to hit two centuries in a Sheffield Shield match, was also dismissed cheaply (2) after being worked over by the experienced Scott Boland on a seaming MCG pitch. However, Konstas was hard done by with the LBW decision against him, with the ball heading well down the legside.

But, his innings showed he has learning to do, which is completely understandable as a young player.

Usman Khawaja (0), Steve Smith (3), Mitch Marsh (9), and Marnus Labuschagne (22) all had a quiet first innings in their respective outings of round two of the Sheffield Shield. Alex Carey is the in-form player in the Australian lineup, with scores of 90, 111, and 42 to start the season.

In addition to low returns from the openers, other hopefuls left runs out on the field. Beau Webster was dismissed for three, Aaron Hardie scored 12 and Nathan McSweeney struck 37, although the South Australia captain has enjoyed an excellent start to the season.

Batting headaches for Australia: What will the starting XI look like for the Border Gavaskar Trophy?

Cameron Green’s serious back injury and Steve Smith moving back to number four has opened up a spot in the Australian XI. There is the option of bringing in an all-rounder in the middle, but a specialist opener is likely to be Australia’s go-to strategy.

Given the batting worries at the moment, the selectors will need more time to make their call. Australia A, where Harris, Bancroft and Konstas are selected, will play India A in two four-day games starting October 31. Much could depend on how those games fare.

Going off runs, Harris is the leader among the experienced opening options. He struck a century and half-century in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield. If he slots in, Australia will call on Mitch Marsh to bowl more overs to support the four specialists. According to head of selectors George Bailey, Australia are managing Marsh to ensure he will bowl in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Australia are aiming to win a series against India for the first time since their 2-0 triumph in 2014/15. India have won the past four, including two straight down under.