Door opens for Cartwright move

An informal conversation between Australia's former batting coach and the country's future mentor has set the ball rolling on a shake-up that could revitalise Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers this summer.

Young WA allrounder Hilton Cartwright looks set to be elevated to opener for the Warriors' Matador BBQ One-Day Cup campaign next month after some sparkling performances at the top of the order in the Quadrangular 'A' Series last month.

Matador Cup preview: Western Australia

The powerful right-hander, who had never opened the batting before this winter, peeled off scores of 20, 81, 65 and 9 as an opener for the National Performance Squad in the one-day tournament, realising a potential at the top of the order his state coach Justin Langer had identified during a breakthrough domestic season last summer. 

It was the 24-year-old's maiden first-class century against South Australia in March, a blazing knock from No.7 that featured 21 fours and two sixes, that had Langer thinking he had a potential limited-overs opener in his ranks.

And a chat between Langer and NPS coach Graeme Hick, who was named Australia's batting coach 11 days ago, during the Qantas Tour of the Caribbean in June set the ball rolling on Cartwright's elevation up the order.

"One of the weaknesses of young batters today is not many of them can play off the back foot, but he was just cutting and pulling really well," Langer told cricket.com.au of Cartwright's century against the Redbacks.

"You think about someone like Jason Roy who plays for England ... he's got a really good technique and he hits the ball so hard so I thought maybe (Cartwright could be an option) early in the innings.

"It's been something we've been searching for since Craig Simmons left us a couple of years ago. Someone who can hit the ball so hard and hit gaps in the field early and be able to play off the back foot.

"There's no reason why he can't be successful at it. I know he enjoyed it with the NPS and hopefully he can get some opportunities this summer at the top of the order to emulate someone like Jason Roy, who's been so successful." 

Having discussed the option with Hick, Langer then sounded out Cartwright himself about a potential shift up the order in limited-overs cricket.

A middle-order batsman for his entire career to that point, including power-packed knocks of 99 and 66 for the Cricket Australia XI in last year's Matador Cup, it was a conversation that caught Cartwright off guard.

"I'd never really thought about it before," Cartwright told cricket.com.au earlier this month.

"And I told (Langer) that and he just said it was something to think about. From there, that was an idea in my head ... and it just gathered momentum.

"I was really nervous going into the (Quadrangular) series because I've never opened but I really, really enjoyed it.

"I found it a much easier game, a simpler game plan.

"Opening the batting (in 50-over cricket) is similar to batting in four-day stuff. You can give yourself a bit of time when the ball is swinging, but still play your shots because it's a one-dayer." 

Cartwright's ability to find the boundary, particularly off the back foot, was on full display in the two impressive half-centuries he scored for the NPS in Townsville in August.

Against Australia A's international quality pace attack of Kane Richardson, Chris Tremain and Daniel Worrall, the powerful right-hander blasted 81 from 92 balls in a total of 231, with five of his nine boundaries coming square of the wicket.

He was at it again less than a week later, his 65 against India A featuring eight more fours and a towering hook shot for six against a pace attack led by internationals Jaydev Unadkat and Hardyik Pandya.

And with regular WA and Scorchers opener Shaun Marsh set to miss a chunk of the Matador Cup with injury, and possibly the KFC Big Bash League due to international duty, Langer says Cartwright will be given a chance to establish himself at the top of the order.

"He's got a great opportunity to grasp that (position)," the coach said.

"You look at the Australian cricket team, you've got (Aaron) Finch and (David) Warner up the top, they get the team off to such a great start.

"And it'd be great to see someone like Hilton grab hold of that opportunity and give the same to Western Australian cricket.

"Because if you can do that and be a gun fielder and bowl handy outswing, it's a good package for Western Australia and Australian cricket." 

Cartwright acknowledges the opening position in the west is currently "a bit of an open slot" due to Marsh's probable unavailability and the off-season departure of Marcus Harris to Victoria.

Marsh partnered Cameron Bancroft at the top of the order in all six Matador Cup matches last season, and joined Michael Klinger at the top for five matches in BBL|05, with Harris (twice) and David Willey (once) standing in when Marsh was absent. 

Having signed a long-term deal with the Scorchers and full of confidence after a brilliant first-class century for Australia A earlier this month, Cartwright is keen to take his opportunity.

"If things fall in place and I get to do that, I'll be over the moon," he said, just days before he posted 117 against India A in Brisbane.

"It gives another part to my game to get selected on.

"If I don't get selected in that role, hopefully I can play in the middle order, but it gives me an extra option to work my way into the team and try and cement my spot there."