Steve Smith will not be opening the batting for Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, as confirmed by the chairman of selectors, George Bailey. This decision eliminates the potential new-ball clash between Smith and India’s Jasprit Bumrah, with the first of the five-match Test series set to begin on November 22.
Smith had requested a change in his batting position ahead of the series, and captain Pat Cummins, along with head coach Andrew McDonald, agreed to the move. “Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer,” Bailey said while announcing Australia’s ODI squad for the upcoming Pakistan series and the Australia A squad for their shadow series against India A.
After David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket, Smith took on the opening role but struggled to find success. In eight innings as an opener, Smith managed 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with his highest score being an unbeaten 91. With Smith likely returning to his more familiar No. 4 position, Australia will need to identify his replacement at the top of the order.
While Bailey did not confirm that Smith would bat at No. 4, he suggested that discussions were ongoing regarding the team’s structure. “Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like, but once you get moving parts, some of those conversations become null and void,” Bailey added.
Additionally, Bailey did not rule out the possibility of Australia fielding a side without a specialist all-rounder, especially after Cameron Green was ruled out. Mitchell Marsh, a regular figure in the Test side, may step in to bowl a few overs, but Bailey noted that Australia has played without an all-rounder in the past, and different team compositions are being considered.
Who Will Open for Australia?
With Smith’s move down the order, Australia’s focus shifts to determining their opening pair alongside Usman Khawaja. Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw are all in contention, as well as 19-year-old Sam Konstas, who has surged into consideration after scoring twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield.
Harris, Bancroft, and Konstas were named in the Australia A squad for two red-ball games against India A next month, which could serve as a proving ground for the opening position. Bailey remarked, “We have another three-and-a-half or four weeks until that Test squad is announced, and how they line up will be determined at that point.”
