We’re now less than a month away from the first Test against India, but the identity of Cameron Green’s replacement remains unknown.

If anything, the opening two rounds of Sheffield Shield action have muddied the waters, with the leading candidates to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja this summer each failing to press their case.

None of five players that were namechecked by national selector George Bailey reached fifty on pace-friendly surfaces in this week’s Sheffield Shield action. The vacant position in Australia’s starting XI is for a specialist opener, but Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw each average under 30 in Tests and under 40 at first-class level.

With no standout option, more left-field options have entered the conversation, including the retired David Warner.

Attention turns swiftly to the upcoming Australia A series against India A, which starts next week. The two matches in Mackay and Melbourne could help Bailey and the selection panel narrow down the candidates, with Bancroft, Harris and New South Wales batting prodigy each featuring in the squad.

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CAMERON BANCROFT

10 runs at 2.50, HS 8

West Australian opener Bancroft was considered the leading candidate to replace Green in the Test side, but another failure in the Sheffield Shield has damaged his chances of a long-awaited national recall.

After the right-hander registered a pair against Queensland earlier this month, edging off while facing Michael Neser in both innings, Bailey reassured him the twin ducks wouldn’t harm his chances of Test selection.

But while it could be argued his dismissals against Queensland could be easily forgiven, with Neser finding the outside edge with a trademark outswinger, Bancroft only has himself to blame for this week’s low scores against Tasmania.

After recklessly wafting at a wide delivery in the first innings, nicking off for 8, he top-edged a short delivery in his second innings on Wednesday that sailed towards deep fine leg, departing for 2.

Bancroft is currently averaging 2.50 in the Sheffield Shield this summer, numbers that hardly warrant Test selection, but he’s got plenty of credits in the bank having compiled 1728 runs at 54.00 over the previous two summers.

“I would probably go with Cameron Bancroft because he’s been the leading run scorer for the last two years in Shield cricket,” former Australian captain Michael Clarke told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Thursday.

“I care about Shield cricket. I think he’s earned the right to be selected based on runs.”

MARCUS HARRIS

237 runs at 59.25, HS 143

Victorian opener Marcus Harris was dismissed by Australian quick Mitchell Starc twice during this week’s Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the MCG, caught down the leg side on both occasions for 26 and 16.

It’s universally considered to be bad luck when a batter strangles one down the leg side, but the twin dismissals could also indicate a weakness when playing off the hip.

“He’d be disappointed he didn’t get his results,” Victorian coach Chris Rogers said after the match.

“Facing Mitch Starc, there’s always a chance you can get out. He’s a world-class bowler. He got caught down the leg side twice. It can happen. He still fought hard, he still moved well, he just didn’t have a lot of luck.”

Harris notched a classy century during Victoria’s season opener against Tasmania earlier this month, with the left-hander still firmly in contention for a Test recall. He’ll get an opportunity to press his case further during the upcoming Australia A series against India A.

“He looks really good at the moment,” Victorian captain Will Sutherland said.

“He obviously made runs last game, and even his couple of outs in this game were a little bit stiff. His defence is standing up really well. If I was a selector, I’m picking him, but that’s not my job.”

SAM KONSTAS

302 runs at 75.50, HS 152

Konstas dominated headlines earlier this month after he clobbered twin hundreds during the Blues’ season opener against South Australia in Sydney.

However, the 19-year-old was outclassed by Victorian quick Scott Boland in the first innings at the MCG this week, trapped LBW for 2 – albeit with replays suggesting the delivery was sliding down the leg side.

Konstas looked considerably more settled on day three, notching 43 before top-edging a wild slog while charging down the deck towards Victorian spinner Todd Murphy.

“He’s a young man, he’s going to make mistakes,” Blues captain Moises Henriques said of Konstas’ second-innings dismissal.

“He was pretty gutted, and he knew the mistake he made as soon as he came off. He’s a young man. He’s got a lot of learning to do.”

New South Wales coach Greg Shipperd remains adamant that Konstas is ready for the challenges of Test cricket, but the former Tasmanian mentor, who watched an 18-year-old Ricky Ponting became the youngest player in history to score two hundreds in a Sheffield Shield match, confessed that having patience could have long-term benefits.

“I thought he was a bit stiff in the first innings,” Shipperd said.

“In the second innings, he started to show everybody again what he’s got. He was really poised and balanced. Anytime you get through the first 25 overs against a Victorian attack with the new ball, it shows you’ve got something. He showed that he should be in the conversation at least.

“We’re really confident that he’s got the game if picked. The next couple of matches for the Australian A team will tell the story in terms of what the Australian selectors will do. There is a gap in the Australian team in the position he bats in at the moment. He’s worth being heavily in conversation.”

MATTHEW RENSHAW

44 runs at 11.00, HS 21

Renshaw has done himself no favours this month.

The left-hander, who featured in Australia’s Test squad last summer but missed selection for the Australia A series, has endured a horror run of form in the Sheffield Shield this year, registering scores of 2, 2, 8, 14, 6, 15, 2 and 21.

Renshaw struggled against South Australia’s seamers this week, dismissed LBW by Jordan Buckingham in the opening over of the first innings before edging behind for 21 on day four of the Sheffield Shield contest.

Within the space of eight months, Renshaw has fallen from Australia’s incumbent spare batter to not even being in the conversation for Test selection.

“I certainly think it counts against him. If other guys are making runs and it is going to be a tight call, it is always going to work like that,” Queensland captain Marnus Labuschagne said.

“That doesn’t mean he can’t bat well in the next two (Shield) games and maybe change people’s opinions or views.”

JOSH INGLIS

297 runs at 99.00, HS 122

While the nation’s openers failed to meet expectations this week, Western Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis continued to push his Test credentials with another Sheffield Shield century against Tasmania at the WACA.

The 29-year-old, who is yet to make his Test debut, scored 101 in the first innings before cracking a rapid 26 not out to rescue the hosts after an early collapse on day four. He now has four centuries in his seven most recent Sheffield Shield matches

“I think if you’re looking to pick guys off form … absolutely (he should be considered),” West Australian captain Sam Whiteman said last week.

“He’s seeing the ball as (well) anyone in the country. He’s so versatile with his game, the way he transfers from white ball to red ball. He just looks in great nick. I’m all for him playing for Australia in some capacity, absolutely.”

Inglis typically bats at No. 6 or 7 for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield. He has never opened in first-class cricket, batting at No. 3 on six occasions with an average of 12.66. Each of his seven first-class hundreds came at No. 6 or lower.

However, the right-hander has opened the batting on several occasions in the white-ball formats. According to NSW coach Greg Shipperd, he could “absolutely” face the new ball against India this summer.

“Let’s not forget Josh Inglis as well, who I think is probably a smokey in terms of the opening the batting,” Shipperd said.

“His performances for Australia have been first class, and I think they’re looking for that style of player at the top of the order, and Inglis may fit that brief.

“He’s a right-handed version of David Warner, in terms of someone who wants to get on with the play, and he’s got strokes all around the wicket. He’s played at the level internationally, and I think he’s a well-respected player.”

NATHAN MCSWEENEY

291 runs at 97.00, HS 127*

South Australian captain Nathan McSweeney has also been touted as an option to open the batting this summer, albeit out of position.

The 25-year-old, who will lead Australia A against India A next week, typically bats at No. 3 or No. 4 in the Sheffield Shield, which makes the transition to opener less jarring.

His unbeaten fourth-innings century against New South Wales, which rescued South Australia from what looked like an inevitable defeat, was arguably the batting performance of this season’s Sheffield Shield to date.

“He’s favoured so highly from the selectors,” cricket reporter Bharat Sundaresan told SENSA’s Kymbo and the Rooch last week.

“They look at him as a leader, he’s the Australia A captain yet again, and he bats No. 3. If you want to create an opener, it always makes sense if it’s someone in the top three.

“If he has a couple of good games for Australia A … I wouldn’t rule him out completely.

“He’s probably not as much of a left-field choice as people might think.”

Regardless, McSweeney declared he is happy to bat anywhere if it meant he got to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a Test cricketer.

“Definitely, as a kid that’s the dream to get a baggy green, I’d bat wherever,” McSweeney said.

“Batting three, your preparation is pretty similar, all my prep is with the new ball. Sometimes you’re in there second ball of the game.”