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AAP
AAP
Sport
Scott Bailey

No contracts for back-up Test openers, race wide open

Marcus Harris Australia Aaron Hardie Matt Short Steve Smith Xavier Bartlett Cricket Australia Jhye Richardson Matt Renshaw Usman Khawaja
Marcus Harris was among those to miss out on a central contract from Cricket Australia. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

The race to be Australia's next Test opener is officially back on, with chief selector George Bailey declaring there is no frontrunner to one day replace Steve Smith or Usman Khawaja.

Bailey confirmed on Thursday that Smith and Khawaja would likely start next summer as Australia's openers, despite an inconsistent start to life together at the top.

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