We just can't let Usman and David go at once, that's 100 percent: Andrew McDonald

Australian coach Andrew McDonald has stated that there is no need for urgency in succession planning at the top of the batting order. The Australian Test side is among the most experienced sides in red-ball cricket, but that does come with a bit of cons.

Australia have as many as six players aged 30 or above in their regular playing eleven. Opening batter Usman Khawaja and David Warner are the eldest among the lot, as they will turn 36 by the end of the year.

Usman Khawaja has been stellar after his re-introduction to the Test side. Meanwhile, David Warner has struggled for consistency, especially in overseas conditions. 

Andrew McDonald stated that both the openers are more than capable of bringing their A-Game to the big stage. The Australian coach said that age should not be a factor, as recent times have shown that players above 35 have gone on to perform as well as their younger counterparts.

"Everyone talks about the wrong side of 35. Is there such a thing as the right side of 35?" McDonald said. 

"We've seen players perform on the other side of 35 as well. So we don't look at the right or wrong side of 35. We look at the performances they're putting out. And we still think they have a lot of time left in them with the challenges we've had in front of us," McDonald added.

Andrew McDonald wants to be careful in terms of succession planning

Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the team cannot lose both David Warner and Usman Khawaja at once. However, he stressed the importance of a careful and sought-after approach to succession planning.

The Australian coach also explained the importance of the Australian A squad, which has exposed younger players to new conditions overseas. 

"Will we have to be careful in terms of when (Warner and Khawaja) do go that they (don't) go together? One hundred per cent,"

"That's what the 'A' program is about. We've exposed some players to different conditions here. We got a New Zealand tour. We've got some home content for the Australia A's as well," McDonald concluded.