Welcome mat for Smith, Warner

Australia captain Tim Paine has thrown out the welcome mat to exiled duo Steve Smith and David Warner as selectors contemplate ringing the changes after a 137-run defeat in the third test.

Selectors have sent an SOS to rookie Marnus Labuschagne by including him in what is now a 14-man squad for the Sydney test, leaving opener Aaron Finch and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh sweating over their futures after Australia’s problematic batting failed in Melbourne.

Australia’s year from hell finished on a low with India requiring only 27 balls to collect the two wickets needed to complete their first victory in Melbourne since 1981 and retain the BorderGavaksar Trophy. A draw will be enough for India, up 2-1, to secure their first series success on these shores.

For all the debate over the banned trio’s international futures, Australia’s continued underperformance with the bat shows how valuable players of Smith’s and Warner’s talent are. Their suspensions have exposed the parlous state of Australia’s batting stocks.

The inability of Australia’s batsmen to compile big scores proved costly on an MCG pitch which required players to bat for long periods to have any chance of prospering.

Since the final test of last summer’s Ashes, Australia’s batsmen have scored only one century in nine games with no player averaging above 40.

The numbers in the Shield also make for sobering reading with few players in state ranks averaging above 40 in first-class cricket. Those that are, such as Glenn Maxwell, Joe Burns and Kurtis Patterson, remain on the outer.

Underscoring the gap between state and test level, Marcus Harris is the best performed batsman of the past three Shield seasons but is averaging 29 in his first series.

Smith and Warner have another three months of their 12-month ban to serve before they are eligible for international selection.

That day cannot come soon enough for Paine, who has lost four of his six tests as captain.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported last week Warner had the backing of Paine and coach Justin Langer despite Smith and Cameron Bancroft’s controversial comments.

‘‘If you’ve got world-class players that aren’t in your team, are they going to add to our team? I think they will,’’ Paine said.

‘‘We’re getting towards the end when those guys are coming back. That’s what the conversation should be around now.

‘‘It’s all been out there. People have had their say and the guys have nearly finished their bans and done their time so I think it’s time we started focusing on the fact they’re coming back and from that there are real positives.’’