Aussie young gun hints how he could match into Test batting puzzle after white-ball breakout
Connolly staking claim for WC spot | 01:03
Dane Heverin from Fox SportsSeptember 18th, 2026 11:38 am
Cooper Connolly could have dropped the biggest trace yet about how Australia’s batting line-up may shape up for next month’s three-Test tour of South Africa.
The 23-year-old was recalled to the Test squad to sort out the World Test Championship winners after making his debut in the saggy inexperienced in Sri Lanka early final yr and showed why he is so highly fancied by the national selectors in Australia’s 59-run win towards Zimbabwe in the first ODI on Tuesday.
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The stylish left-hander smacked 4 fours and three sixes in his innings of 51 from 46 balls, getting Australia off to a stable start earlier than Matt Renshaw’s maiden ODI century ensured the guests’ posted a formidable total.
After scoring his maiden ODI ton – a match-winning 149 <a href="https://cricket.international/top-3-india-women-<a href="https://cricket.international/top-3-sri-lanka-women-gamers-to-watch-out-against-pakistan/” title=”High 3: Sri Lanka Girls Players to Watch Out Against Pakistan”>gamers-to-watch-out-against-bangladesh/” title=”High 3: India Girls Players to Watch Out Against Bangladesh”>towards Bangladesh in Mirpur in June – opening the batting, Connolly is now occupying the No.3 position in Australia’s 50-over aspect with Travis Head and Mitch Marsh’s return to the staff prompting a shift to first drop.
It’s the spot he may take in the Test aspect.
Incumbent No.3 Marnus Labuschagne retained his place in Australia’s 16-man squad however his place in the staff is in doubt with Australian legend Ricky Ponting declaring throughout final month’s High Finish collection towards Bangladesh that the Queenslander’s position is “nearly untenable” given his struggles.
Connolly’s sole Test appearance got here batting at No.8, while supporting spinners Nathan Lyon and Matt Kuhnemann together with his left arm tweakers on a turning monitor in Galle.
But Australia’s chairman of selectors George Bailey insisted when chatting with reporters after announcing the Test squad earlier this month that Connolly has been chosen as a batter.
He additionally advised that Connolly is capable of batting at No.3 for Australia “whether or not that’s now, whether or not that’s in the future”.
The West Australian will bounce at any alternative to interrupt into Pat Cummins’ Test XI, however in all however two of his 21 first-class innings has occupied a position between No.5 and No.8 in the batting order.
“After I get the opportunity, I’ll attempt to benefit from it, and whether or not that’s at three or it’s in the center order, I’m very happy to play in either position,” Connolly advised media on the eve of Friday’s second ODI in Harare.
“It’s a strong Test squad and so they’ve been robust for an extended time frame. It’s nearly attempting to be taught as a lot as doable from guys of like Smudge (Steve Smith) and ‘Heady’.”
These two pillars of Australia’s batting order could maintain the key to fitting Connolly into the Test puzzle.
The teenager is modelling his game on Head, and for the reason that South Australian made to the top of the order throughout final summer season’s Ashes collection, the Australians have felt the absence of an aggressive, counter-attacker in the center order.
Cameron Inexperienced was wonderful towards Bangladesh in Head’s outdated spot of No.5.
Inexperienced compiled a maiden hundred on Australian soil in a shedding effort in Darwin earlier than being the only batter to reach fifty in the two-day bowler blitz in Mackay.
But a promotion could possibly be in order.
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David Warner advised Code Sports final week that “Smudge will bat three” in South Africa and the Fox Cricket commentator could possibly be on the cash.
That will imply Smith shifting to No.3, Inexperienced shifting as much as No.4 – the place he scored a profession greatest 174* in New Zealand when Smith briefly opened the batting in 2024 – and Connolly slotting in at No.5 with Labuschagne shedding his place.
If Connolly, who’s yet to score a first-class century, can continue to be taught from Head, it could possibly be the best match.
“I probably get into Heady’s mind somewhat bit because I feel like I play an identical approach in red-ball cricket to him,” Connolly mentioned.
“So just understanding how he goes about it and how he reads the game. I think over the past two or three years I’ve form of understood his game somewhat bit extra as I’ve played with him somewhat bit longer.
“It’s just taking the learnings from everyone in the group, the folks that have played numerous Test cricket for Australia, and understanding what it’s prefer to play in all these completely different situations once I’m on these excursions.
“It’s about understanding and learning an increasing number of of different gamers – you start to usher in issues that they use which may work in your game.”
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For the immediate future, Connolly has his sights firmly on his white-ball commitments even whether it is arduous to ignore the prospect of donning the saggy inexperienced once more.
In addition to scoring runs, he additionally returned to the bowling crease for the first time in roughly five months after a back concern.
The silver lining of the lay-off was that Connolly’s batting has come on in leaps and bounds while being his sole focus.
A breakout IPL campaign for the Ponting coached Punjab Kings highlighted that earlier than his Bangladesh ton.
But he took 1/23 from his 4 overs in the first ODI and if he can chip in with helpful overs, it is a huge boost to the Australian aspect, who have to squeeze ten overs out of their batting all-rounders following the retirement of Glenn Maxwell final yr.
“It was nice to be back bowling, to be honest,” he mentioned. “I’ve definitely had to concentrate on batting, however obviously I did miss bowling.
“I’ve bowled for most of my life, so it’s been somewhat little bit of a unique approach to go about coaching. I’d go and have a hit, after which I’d don’t have anything to do.
“Nevertheless it was a pleasant, required break for my back, and I’m feeling good now, trending in the right direction. I’ll just slowly hold building in direction of an increasing number of overs as time goes on.”
Zimbabwe v Australia 1st ODI Highlights | 16:30
Being in Africa with the ODI aspect additionally means that Connolly cannot help however solid his mind ahead to next yr’s World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
After being a last-minute addition to Australia’s Champions Trophy squad final yr, he is definitely putting his greatest foot ahead to earn a World Cup debut.
“I’d love to be on that tour,” he mentioned. “It’s obviously a dream to play in a one-day World Cup.”
“I’d love to bat in the high order, but the one-day staff’s been a strong staff for a while, and so they’ve all the time been robust on the high. So it’s just attempting to be as versatile as doable and if I can nail that chance, so be it. But if there’s another alternative down the order the place I’m going to fit in, I’m very happy to fit in there.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
