Langer mulls batting options

CRICKET AFTER a home Test summer searching for batting options, Australian coach Justin Langer now has a plethora on the short-form tour of India.

A host of batsmen including Usman Khawaja are keen to partner Aaron Finch at the top of the order when Australia meet India in two Twenty20 fixtures and five one-day internationals.

“There’s a lot of good players in this team … it’s good to have options,” Khawaja said on Wednesday. “A lot of guys that are in this team are quite flexible on where they can play, so whatever happens moving forward I think everyone will do quite well in whatever role they have.”

Australia play India in the first T20 game on Sunday.

Khawaja has previously opened in T20 and one-day cricket, while the Australian squad also features D’Arcy Short, who was the Big Bash League’s player of the tournament and leading run-scorer.

Allrounder Marcus Stoinis also thrived at the top of the order for the Melbourne Stars, making 499 runs, including four half-centuries.

His Stars teammate Glenn Maxwell has a T20 international ton when opening – his highest T20 score of 145 against Sri Lanka in 2016.

And wicketkeeper Alex Carey has opened the batting with Finch in one-dayers recently and also opens for his BBL outfit, the Adelaide Strikers.

Regardless of Langer’s choice, Khawaja said the coach was sticking to his same message to all players.

“JL’s message is very simple and clear most times – just try to get better every single time,” Khawaja said.