Top 10 Australian Test openers of all time 

Openers play a very important role setting up the innings. Their approach generally sets the tone for the innings and gives a clear idea about how the latter part of an innings will shape up.

Australia are one of the most dominating teams in world cricket. They are also one of the most successful – in all formats. And one of the main reasons for this is that they have always had very good batsmen at the top of the order.

Here, we look at 10 of the best Australian openers of all time.

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#10 Geoff Marsh

Geoff Marsh was a gritty, stubborn and tough batsman who was an integral part of the resurrecting Australian team under Allan Border. He made his Test debut in December 1985 after the trio of Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh had retired.

Coming into bat at No. 3 in his first couple of Tests against India, he scored only 56 runs in 4 innings. But after a poor start, he switched to open the batting and this move paid rich dividends as Australia found a stubborn character at the top of the order. In his first innings as an opener, Marsh scored a stubborn 92 off 304 balls at the SCG to defy the Indian bowlers.

The Western Australian batsman formed two key and famous partnerships – first with David Boon and then with Mark Taylor. He scored 2854 runs at an average of 33.18 in 50 tests. These are not great numbers, but the way Marsh batted with a solid technique, he could be called what is known as a ‘stonewaller’.

#9 David Boon

David Boon

Most fans may now relate David Boon as a recognizable match referees. But a lot of people forget that he was one of the grittiest batsmen to have played for Australia.

Despite not being the most fluent player, Boon always found a way to get runs in all conditions. He had a great ability - occupying the crease for long periods of time. Boon started off as a middle-order batsman, but his struggles against spin prompted the team management to promote him to open the batting.

Boon settled into the opening position nicely as he was consistent in that slot. In the 63 innings the big Tasmanian opened the batting, he scored 2614 runs at an average of 45.07. He formed a vital opening partnership with Geoff Marsh during Australia’s rebuilding phase under Allan Border.

In 1995, during Australia’s tour to the West Indies, Boon played his 100th Test and became only the second Australian player to play 100 Tests.

Opening the batting was working well, but the emergence of Mark Taylor and Michael Slater in the early 1990s pushed Boon to No. 3. In 1995, during Australia’s tour to the West Indies, Boon played his 100th Test and became only the second Australian player to play 100 Tests.

In January 1996, he played his Test and finished with 7422 runs at an average of 43.66 which included 21 hundreds.

#8 Michael Slater

Michael Slater

Before the likes of Matthew Hayden and Virender Sehwag took the attack to the opposition right from the word go, Michael Slater defined aggression while opening the batting. Often, he helped Australia get off to a brisk and solid start.

Born in a city called Wagga Wagga in NSW, Slater made his Test debut after playing just 12 first-class games. Opening the batting (on debut) at Old Trafford, he made 58 and 27. However, it was the next Test at Lord’s that cemented his place. He scored a majestic 152 as he helped Australia early lead in the 1993 Ashes.

In his first three years (1993-1995), the aggressive New South Wales opener scored heavily, averaging almost 50 in each of them. But a slump in form in 1996 led to his ouster from the team for a period of 2 years. He continued to play till 2001.

He forged a formidable opening partnership with Mark Taylor. Slater scored 14 Test hundreds in his illustrious 74-test career. In fact, he got out 9 times in the nervous 90s being only second to Tendulkar, Dravid and Steve Waugh (who got out 10 times in the 90s).

Slater scored 5312 runs at an average of 42.84 in his 8-year career.

#7 Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor had a poor start to his career before turning it around, netting scores of 25, 3, 3 and 36 in his first four innings against West Indies at home in 1989.

However, a stellar Sheffield Shield season helped him earn a place for the 1989 Ashes in England. In a high-octane series, Taylor came into his own where he broke all sorts of records, scoring 839 runs at a staggering average of 83.9 in that series helping Australia regain the urn after 6 years.

Taylor continued his stellar form in the following years and was a permanent member of Australia’s line-up during the 1990s. His slip catching was as reliable as his solid batting. He took 157 catches (most of them in the slips) in his 104-match Test career.

He was also an astute captain. He took over from Allan Border and built on the team Border had formed, leading Australia to 26 Test victories (out of the 50 he led in). In 1998, Taylor became Australia’s highest induvial scorer when he scored a majestic 334 against Pakistan.

The following year (1999), Taylor retired after leading Australia to another Ashes victory at home. Taylor finished with 7525 runs at an average of 43.49 which included 19 hundreds and 40 hald-centuries.

#6 David Warner

David Warner

When we speak about great opening batsmen around the world today, David Warner is an inevitable candidate on that list. He made headlines in 2009 when he became the first ever Australian to make his international debut (in a T20I) without playing a first-class game.

He first fixed his spot in the limited-overs side before going on to earn a permanent spot at the top of the order in Tests. Only in his second Test, Warner scored a superb fourth innings (123*) century against New Zealand when Australia were chasing 240. Even though Australia lost the game, Warner’s unbeaten 123 was a career-defining knock for him as he became the 13th Australian to carry his bat.

Since then, he hasn’t looked back. Apart from 2013, when he averaged 39.52, his average has been more than 40 in every year. He often helps Australia get off to a flier.

Earlier this year (2017), he became the fifth batsman to score a hundred before lunch on the first day of a Test. In 67 Tests, Warner has scored 5818 runs at a very good average of 48.48. His career Test strike-rate is 77.12, which is a testament to his aggressive style of play.

#5 Arthur Morris

Arthur Morris

Arthur Morris is one of the most elegant batsmen Australia has ever produced. Playing in the era after the Second World War, Morris made his debut in the 1946/47 Ashes at home. He flopped in the first couple of Tests, but came back strongly in the following Tests he scored 3 centuries in 3 innings helping Australia win the Ashes.

In Bradman’s final Test series, the Sydney-born New South Wales opener outshone the great man as he scored 696 runs at an average of 87 in the 1948 Ashes. In his first 12 Tests, Morris scored 1401 runs with 7 hundreds at a stunning average of 81.90.

He looked like a perfect replacement for Bradman, once he retired. But inconsistency didn’t let him achieve the success he would have like to by the end of his career.

He ended up with 3533 runs at an average of 46.49. He scored 12 hundreds and 12 fifties in his 1-year career which ended abruptly after his wife of only 18 months was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, and lost her battle at the age of 33.

#4 Bob Simpson

Bob Simpson

Bob Simpson was one of the few players whose career lasted more than two decades. Making his debut in 1957 against South Africa in Johannesburg, Simpson scored a solid 60 in his maiden outing.

Simpson was a constant figure in the Australian line-up in the late 1950s and 1960s. His performance was never up to expectation as he always threw away good starts. It was only in his 30th Test that he scored his maiden hundred against England at Old Trafford. Once he got to that 100 landmark in that game, he didn’t let go of the opportunity as he turned his maiden century into a triple hundred as he scored 311.

He reached the three-figure mark 9 more times in his career. Despite not converting his starts, Simpson averaged 46.81 in Tests where he scored 4869 runs in 62 games.

#3 Justin Langer

Justin Langer

Justin Langer’s career was a tale of two halves (pre-2000 and post-2000). Despite getting a lot of opportunities, Langer could not cement his spot in the Australian Test team in the 1990s.

After making his debut in 1993, Langer played at least one Test every year till 1999 (barring 1995). Until the end of 1999, The Western Australian opener had played 29 Tests and had scored just 1702 runs at an average of about 36.

But the turn of the century turned the tides for Langer, and he became one the most consistent batsman in the Australian line-up. Since 2000, he scored 6994 runs at an average of 48.17. Out of his 23 Test centuries, 18 came during this period.

He formed a terrific opening partnership with Matthew Hayden, as more often than not, they gave the team solid starts. Langer was an integral part of the Australian Test team that dominated world cricket in the 2000s.

After a late surge in his career, Langer retired in early 2007, ending as one of the best Australian openers of all time.

#2 Bill Lawry

Bill Lawry

Bill Lawry, a very famous commentator also known as the voice of Australia, was one of the grittiest and reliable batsmen Australia had. Making his debut in 1961, Lawry made a mark in his first two innings as he scored 57 (at Birmingham) and 130 (at Lord’s).

He built on his solid start, playing 67 Tests and scoring 5234 runs. He also scored 13 hundreds and 27 fifties. Ian Wooldridge, the English journalist, called him "a corpse with pads on" as he was very hard to dismiss.

He was also a very good captain. Lawry’s main goal as captain was to ensure that Australia didn't lose. Also, his partnership with Bob Simpson was one of the best during their time.

#1 Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden

Tall, strong and big-built, Matthew Hayden was one of the best opening batsmen of all time in world cricket. He announced himself with a brilliant 149 on first-class debut, which was followed by some consistent performances at the domestic level.

Like his fellow opener Justin Langer, Hayden’s Test career can be divided into two halves (pre-2001 and post 2001). Making his debut in March 1994 against South Africa, Hayden scored only 20 runs. Between 1994 and 2001, Hayden played only 12 Tests and had scored only 528 runs at a poor average of 26.40.

However, once he started opening the batting with Justin Langer, he turned around a miserable start to his career to end up as one of the greats in Australian cricket. He often bullied the opposition with the way he batted as he scored his runs at a very good rate.

He was one of the most dominant and destructive opening batsmen of all time. He scored 8625 runs in 103 Tests at a brilliant average of 50.74, and also scored 30 hundreds which at one point in his career looked almost impossible.

With these stats, it is not difficult to see why he is considered among the best Australian openers in history.