• Source:JND
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Former Australia all-rounder Shane Watson has favoured Cameron Green for the Test opener role as David Warner will retire after the ongoing third Test against Pakistan at Sydney Cricket Ground. Watson believes that Green has all the skills to end Australia's opening conundrum following Warner's farewell.

Earlier, Australia coach and selector Andrew McDonald batted for chipping Green as Usman Khawaja's partner citing examples of Watson and Simon Katich, who had successful stints as Test openers after starting their careers down the order.

"There's no question in my mind he can [open]. Australia needs to get Cameron Green into the team and the opportunity that you've got right now is for him to open," Watson told ESPNcricinfo.

"They'll just have to manage his bowling, for sure, like with my bowling when I was opening the batting. But he absolutely has got the skill, the run-scoring ability and the understanding to be able to make the most of being an opening batter for sure. It might take him a game or two just to be able to work out exactly what his game plan is. But he's definitely got the game and the mentality to make the most of it," he added.

Khawaja advised to stick Labuschagne at No.3 while Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh have backed their respective places in the side which paves the way for Green to open the innings.

Apart from Green, Australia captain Pat Cummins and McDonald stated that the three best Sheffield Shield openers Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are in contention to replace Warner in Tests. However, they are not against of the opinion to promote the batter from the lower order.

Watson added that Green's bowling stress should be managed carefully by Pat Cummins if he gets promoted to the top of the batting order as Ricky Ponting did to the veteran all-rounder.

"It did reduce the number of overs that I bowled during a Test match at times. But I would still bowl around 10 overs per day. But he would do everything he could for me not to bowl when we were trying to get the last couple of batters out, just to give me the chance to not be overly fatigued going into opening the batting," Watson said.