Australian cricket legend Greg Chappell has again urged selectors to back specialist opener Jake Weatherald in next week’s first Ashes Test.
Chappell recently referred to opening with traditional No.3 Marnus Labuschagne as “extremely risky” in his column for ESPN Cricinfo and doubled down on Tuesday.
Weatherald will face England alongside Usman Khawaja if the selectors opt to keep Labuschagne in his preferred position.
Chappell said “you need to want to” open and doubts whether greats like his brother Ian or Ricky Ponting would have been as good if they were ever elevated from No.3.
“I hope the powers that be know who their first-choice opener alongside Khawaja is because I think it’s an important role, it always has been,” Chappell said as Australia promoted the 150th anniversary Test in March 2027.
“Specialists have generally done better than people who have been press-ganged into the role.
“Opening is a role I think you need to want to do and most openers are pretty passionate about getting in there and batting first.
“It’s not a matter of, ‘We’ll pick our No.3 batsman to go and open’ because Ian (Chappell) batted No.3 for Australia, Ricky Ponting batted No.3 for Australia.
“I am not sure they would’ve been as good as openers because it probably wasn’t their passion to open the batting.
“I hope they make the right choice whatever they do. Whoever goes out there will be doing their best, that’s for sure.”
When Weatherald was named in the 15-man squad for Perth, chief selector George Bailey repeatedly lauded the way the left-hander scored his runs.
Weatherald made just 23 for Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield on Monday but crunched five fours in his transient stay at the crease.
Chappell, who played 87 Tests for Australia, said it was important to have a mix of styles at the top of the order.
“I think you need a mix at that level, you don’t want both players batting the same way, so that synergy between the openers is pretty important,” he said.
“Knowing their role, if one is going well (then) the other is the support act on that particular day.
“Again, it’s just a matter of whoever the two are who walk out there are on the same page and want to be there doing the job.
“It is an interesting England attack. I think it’s exciting to think we’re going to see a real contest.
“History tells us every series that has been won in Australia has been won by the best bowling, which has usually been fast bowling.”
