Clarke suggests Wade as makeshift Aussie opener

Former Test captain Michael Clarke has suggested Australia consider elevating Matthew Wade to open the batting against India in a move that would allow Cameron Green to make his debut.

Australia's opening pairing for the first Vodafone Test in Adelaide is still unclear with David Warner ruled out due to a groin strain.

Youngster Will Pucovski is also a doubt after his latest head knock during the Australia A tour match in Sydney.

With incumbent Joe Burns struggling for form, just who will open the batting is the biggest question mark over the Australian line-up.

Clarke feels it would be unfair for Wade to be forced out of the team in place of allrounder Green, who belted a century and took two wickets in the tour match at Drummoyne Oval earlier this week.

But moving the versatile 32-year-old Wade up the order could be a way for coach Justin Langer to solve two selection headaches.

"If you're going to pick Cameron Green then you've got to find another spot for Wadey," Clarke told AAP.

"He's got to be in that starting XI but that could be anywhere in that team.

"That could be opening the batting if need be. I think Wadey can do that."

Wade has never batted higher than No.5 in Test cricket but has opened 10 times in one-day cricket for Australia, averaging 30.60 with a highest score of 75.

Green, described by Greg Chappell as Australia's best talent since Ricky Ponting, and Pucovski are being viewed as the future of the Test team given their form early in the summer.

Having debuted as a 23-year-old prospect before going on to forge his own 115-Test career, Clarke said the rise of young talent should be embraced fully.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with promoting these two youngsters and being excited about how talented they are," Clarke said.

"We always need to remember that sport at the highest level is very hard and you've got to expect that there's going to be some great times and there's going to be some tough times.

"As long as we appreciate that as a fan then I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be super excited."

Vodafone Test Series v India 2020-21

Australia Test squad: Tim Paine (c), Sean Abbott, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, Matthew Wade, David Warner

India Test squad: Virat Kohli (c) (first Test only), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj

First Test: December 17-21, Adelaide Oval, 3pm AEDT (day-night)

Second Test: December 26-30, MCG, 10.30am AEDT

Third Test: January 7-11, SCG, 10.30am AEDT

Fourth Test: January 15-19, Gabba, 11am AEDT