An inevitable changing of guard is approaching. These emerging Aussie stars are jostling for position

Australian coach Andrew McDonald has no plans to hasten the retirement of some of the nation’s finest cricketers ahead of Test series against Pakistan and the West Indies.

On a day rival openers Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris endured contrasting fortunes in their bids for a recall this summer, McDonald said “you never put a deadline on players”.

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David Warner has declared this will be his final summer of Test cricket and stars including Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc are all in their mid-30s.

McDonald acknowledged Australia has an eye on ensuring it is in a position to defend its World Test Championship title in two years time in England. But he said the selection of sides for each individual Test and series will be treated on merit.

Australia will play three Tests against Pakistan and two against the West Indies this summer before a two Test series in New Zealand beginning in late February. A massive series against India looms large next summer.

“I think people have speculated about Usman Khawaja and David Warner and Steve Smith and, no doubt, they will be having the conversations with their network and they are having the conversation with us as well,” McDonald told SEN Radio in Melbourne on Tuesday.

“But I am a big believer that you don’t know when the end date is. Sometimes players, when they get to 36 or 37, they hit the peak of their powers. We have seen that with other players in other nations as well. So to put an end date on a player is, I think, a bit scary.

“When the end comes, the player knows when it is the end. To get the timing right is critical.”

The view of the Australian coach is similar to one held by former great Mike Hussey, who told foxsports.com.au last week that prospective Test representatives needed to earn the right to be selected ahead of the incumbents.

“I actually think you are aware of the next generation coming through … and from my perspective, that was almost a motivating force for me,” he said.

“It made me think, ‘I can still compete with these younger guys coming through’. And that motivated me to make sure my preparation was good, to make sure my training was good, to make sure I was ready to go and then use my experience as an advantage over them.”

WHO IS AUSTRALIA’S NEXT OPENER AND WHERE DOES CAMERON GREEN STAND?

The Australian squad for the Pakistan series is set to be announced prior to the Prime Minister’s XI’s outing against the tourists in Canberra beginning on December 6.

Renshaw, Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Todd Murphy and Michael Neser are among those set to play in Canberra who will hold aspirations for national representation over the next year.

After a couple of outstanding innings in recent Sheffield Shield matches for Victoria, Harris on Tuesday failed to further his claims of returning to the Australian Test team.

The 31-year-old, who made a gritty 73 in difficult conditions at the MCG earlier in November against Queensland after scoring 164 against Tasmania, was out for three in Adelaide.

In Queensland, Renshaw was not out on 37 from 97 balls when rain halted play in the clash against a Western Australian-side featuring Bancroft.

But could there be a selection wildcard in the mix for the West Indies series?

Cameron Green was replaced by fellow Western Australian Mitch Marsh midway through the Ashes, but selectors retain significant faith in the 24-year-old.

McDonald said Green, who is playing his first Sheffield Shield match in two years for Western Australia at the Gabba this week, has performed well batting at No.4 for his state.

When discussing Green’s prospects for the future, the Australian coach noted there had been periods where the nation had altered its batting order with success in the past.

World Cup hero Travis Head, for example, has shown significant intent when opening in the shorter formats, while Mitch Marsh has been versatile enough to move around in the order.

“What does Cam Green’s future look like in the Test team? Is it a matter of waiting for Mitch to finish or could there be another spot that opens up over time?,” McDonald said.

“He has batted at six for most of his Test cricket, but he has been a fantastic No.4 for WA and averages close to 50 in Shield cricket.

“There is always the idea that you can potentially shift the order to make room to put your best six batters, or what you see as best six batters, in a certain order, and we have seen that in Australian cricket before.

“David Boon went from three to opening. Justin Langer went from three to opening. Shane Watson went from six to opening. So there has been the ability to reshuffle and for that to be successful. But we will leave that to the first Test match in Perth.”

SHIELD STARS TO WATCH WITH A VIEW TO A TEST FUTURE

McDonald confirmed Australian selectors were assessing this week’s round of Sheffield Shield matches, the last before a recess for the Big Bash competition, closely.

But when it comes to national selection, weight tends to be given to a broader body of work rather than a purple patch of form when considering who dons the ‘Baggy Green’.

McDonald, who said the next World Test Championship is “front and centre of mind”, does not necessarily believe a staggered retirement of champions is critical to retain balance in the Australian team.

“I don’t think there is anything wrong with having two or three changes, as long as those players have been exposed to a quality of Shield cricket that is there, and also Australia A matches, and that they have been on tours and the team is not foreign to them,” he told SEN.

The short-list for the opening position seems certain, unless there is a selection wildcard or switch in the order.

But a number of established and emerging cricketers have performed well enough in the first half of the Sheffield Shield season to ensure selectors have circled their names as players to watch.

“There is no doubt that you will have a younger player from time to time that people will think needs to play, or get exposure to play, but a lot of that always takes care of itself,” McDonald said.

South Australian Nathan McSweeney, 24, scored two half-centuries when captaining Australia A against New Zealand A earlier this year and has performed well this summer.

It is worth noting McDonald referenced performances for Australia A when breaking down the selection process and selectors are clearly impressed with McSweeney, who will also captain the Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra.

He sits in third position in terms of runs scored this season with 456, trailing Bancroft (505 runs) and Tasmanian Beau Webster (487 runs), with the latter also impressive this year.

Australia is blessed with talented all-rounders including Marsh, Green and fellow Western Australian Aaron Hardie, but Webster is showing steel when batting for his state.

The Tasmanian, who possesses great variety with his bowling and is also extremely versatile in terms of where he can bat, has matured into a player offering far more than simply being a Mr. Fix-It.

The bowling form of Nathan McAndrew for South Australia has been strong enough for selectors to pick him for the touring match against Pakistan in early December as well.

Keep an eye on Jack Clayton, a 24-year-old who has retained his spot in the Queensland middle order despite the return of Marnus Labuschagne for the clash against Western Australia.

A year ago Matt Short, who is currently representing Australia in the T20 series in India, was unable to earn selection for Victoria.

But former Australian opener Chris Rogers has found a key that has enabled Short to excel in all three versions of the game during a prolific period for the Victorian.

A handy off-spinner, he shapes as a potential triple threat in all formats for Australia given he has shown he can bat both with aggression but also with discipline when required.

His Victorian captain Will Sutherland has also shown great promise with the bat and ball after overcoming stress fractures in his back.

There is no shortage of talent on offer in Western Australia, but off-spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, 26, is a player to keep an eye on given his strong form over the past year.

Champion spinner Nathan Lyon is the incumbent. Todd Murphy, who is missing this round of the Sheffield Shield to rest a shoulder niggle, will play in the PM XI outing.

But Roccicchioli, who is studying for a masters degree in business administration, is capable of producing awkward bounce from his height (190cm) and is a regular wicket taker.

Lawrence Neil-Smith, 24, continues to impress and was outstanding for Tasmania in the opening innings of the Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales when finishing with figures of 7 for 58, with the effort taking him past 50 first class wickets.

Ollie Davies also impressed, managing to survive the brilliance of Neil-Smith when scoring an unbeaten 81 in New South Wales total of 224.

Others to keep an eye on in the second half of the season with a view to future Australian representation include Caleb Jewell, Tim Ward, Jack Edward, Campbell Calloway and Teague Wyllie.