Australia coach Andrew McDonald believes the top six batsmen who finished the last Test season are likely to retain their spots for the highly anticipated five-match series against India later this year, though not necessarily in the same batting order.
Steve Smith, who moved up to open the batting following David Warner's Test retirement midway through last season, may not stay in that role, according to McDonald.
"While we've considered it, no firm decisions have been made yet," McDonald told SEN radio from England on Wednesday. "We've had initial discussions in Sydney about our plans for the summer, covering everything from batting order to depth in bowling and various contingencies."
McDonald acknowledged that if Smith doesn't open, another player would need to step into that role. He also highlighted Cameron Green’s success at number four, scoring an unbeaten 174 against New Zealand in the last series, which adds complexity to the decision-making process.
“Nothing is set in stone at this stage,” he said.
Despite Smith's mixed results as an opener, McDonald indicated that the core top six—Smith, Green, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, and Mitchell Marsh—are likely to retain their spots in the side.
"We're still committed to selecting the best six batters," McDonald added. "If they have a clean run and are well-prepared, we believe they're the best players to fill those positions."
McDonald also noted that Australia may rest some Test players from the white-ball series against Pakistan, which precedes the India Tests, allowing them to focus on red-ball cricket in the Sheffield Shield.
The Test series against India kicks off in Perth on November 22, with subsequent matches in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.