It’s an idea that has been branded ‘crazy’ by Matthew Hayden and is a question that will continue to hover over Australia ahead of their five-match Test series against India at home later this year: Should Steve Smith continue to play as a Test opener?
Smith has opened in Australia’s last four Tests – clearly not enough amount to judge his efficacy as an opener. In eight innings that Smith has opened, he averages 28.50 with a best of 91 not out.
Against a team like India that boasts of a world-class pace attack, will Australia, the current holders of the ICC World Test Championship, continue to experiment with Smith at the top? Coach Andre McDonald admits it’s a question they have been pondering themselves.
“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? Whilst we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one,” McDonald told SEN Whateley.
“There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I’d be lying if I said the conversation wasn’t happening. There are conversations around a lot of what ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come,” he added.
Smith has batted in the middle-order for the majority of his Test career and has scored 32 hundreds. Hayden in the past has said the 35-year-old has been “a gun (player) in that position” and there are multiple reasons why shifting him to a new position is “crazy”.
A clearer picture though is expected to emerge if Smith represents his domestic team New South Wales (NSW) in the Sheffield Shield – Australia’s top-flight red-ball competition – as part of his preparation for the India series.
“We’ll unveil everything, and we’ll let Greg Shipperd (NSW coach) know what our plans are and then we’ll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play Shield cricket,” McDonald said.
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins will have a big say in Australia’s XI.
“What am I willing to share? Not a lot at this stage. All I can say is the conversation’s happening,” McDonald said.
“Clearly, Patty Cummins as the captain is a big part of that, he’s rehabbing at the moment, he’s not over here (in the UK). We’ve already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we’re thinking for the summer, and that goes right down to depth bowling and what it looks like, all those hypotheticals and what ifs that we always go through,” he added.
Among those who could partner Usman Khawaja at the top should Smith return to the middle order include Travis Head and allrounder Cameron Green.
“Clearly, if we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top. We’ve seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed on at the moment,” McDonald said.
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