Josh Inglis is a “smoky” to claim the vacant spot in Australia’s top order and should be firmly in the Test selection conversation with young gun Sam Konstas, NSW coach Greg Shipperd says.
WA wicketkeeper-batsman Inglis reminded national selectors of his talents this week with a blistering century in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania while batting at No.6.
Shipperd believes the 29-year-old limited-overs international could successfully fill the gap as opener for the five-Test series against India, starting in Perth next month, even if it costs his charge Konstas a spot in the team.
Inglis is Australia’s incumbent ODI and T20 wicketkeeper, featuring in 49 internationals, but has not yet played a Test and remains an understudy to Alex Carey in the longest form of the game.
Shipperd feels Inglis offers a like-for-like replacement for former opener David Warner, who retired last summer.
“I’d have Inglis and Konstas in the conversation … and let the Australian selectors mull over those two,” Shipperd said on Wednesday.
“His (Inglis’s) performances for Australia have been first-class and I think they’re looking for a style of player at the top of the order, and Inglis may fit that brief.
“If you think of the style, he’s a right-handed version of David Warner in terms of someone who wants to get on with the play.
“He’s got strokes all around the wicket and has played at the level internationally. I think he’s a well-respected player.”
Inglis, Konstas and Carey are the only players with multiple Shield hundreds this season, with Inglis named man of the match in both of his appearances so far.
He made 101 and 26 not out in WA’s six-wicket win over Tasmania, which wrapped up on Wednesday.
Konstas pressed his case with twin hundreds in his first match of the Shield season against South Australia.
The 19-year-old was out lbw for two in his first innings in NSW’s 141-run loss to Victoria this week and made 43 in his second before a rush of blood brought him undone.
After hitting a boundary off Todd Murphy, Konstas went down the track to the offspinner and top-edged a catch.
“He was a bit stiff in the first innings and in the second innings he started to show everybody again what he’s got,” Shipperd said.
“He was really poised and balanced and any time you get through the first 25 overs of a Victorian attack with the new ball it shows you’ve got something.
“But for a sad error in terms of judgement in that particular ball, I think he showed that he should be in a conversation at least.”
Shipperd, who coached Tasmania when Ricky Ponting was dominating the domestic scene, likened Konstas to a young version of the former Australian captain.
He highlighted his charge’s skill, poise and ability to play strokes all around the wicket, and said Konstas was handling the spotlight well after just six first-class appearances.
“He’s really relaxed and just focused on learning and focused on what his game is all about in terms of what is working and where the challenges may be,” Shipperd said.
Australia are searching for a new opener after a four-Test experiment with Steve Smith at the top fell flat after Warner’s retirement.
Smith made 171 runs at a lowly average of 28.5 against in two matches each against the West Indies and New Zealand.
He will drop back down to his preferred spot at No.4 because of Cameron Green’s back injury.
Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft are also in contention to take the opening spot, although the latter failed with the bat again on Wednesday, making just two before being dismissed as WA chased a small victory target of 83 against Tasmania.
Warner, meanwhile, this week revealed he had messaged Australia’s chief selector George Bailey and coach Andrew McDonald about a possible comeback.
Despite turning 38 on Sunday, he insisted he was “dead serious” about a comeback.
Shipperd and NSW captain Moises Henriques laughed off the suggestion when quizzed about Warner’s comments, as did his former opening partner and Victoria coach Chris Rogers.
“I think Davey’s being Davey, and he’s looking for a reaction,” Rogers said.
