Steve Smith’s short stint as a Test opener has ended after he decided to move back to the middle order for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series against India.
Smith was promoted up the order after David Warner called time on his international career in the Sydney Test against Pakistan in January this year. In his second match in his new role, he struck an unbeaten 91 against the West Indies in Brisbane. However, that was pretty much it for the right-hand batter, who scored only 51 runs in the subsequent New Zealand series in four innings.
Chief selector George Bailey confirmed that Smith will bat at No.4 in the upcoming series against India, starting in November. The decision comes after Cameron Green was ruled out for the rest of the summer due to a back injury.
"Pat [Cummins], Andrew [McDonald] and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green)," Bailey said. "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."
Aaqib Javed has revealed the reason behind Pakistan's decision to exclude Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Babar Azam from the squad for the last two England Tests.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) October 13, 2024
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Who could replace Smith at the top
The move opens doors for Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw, all of whom are in contention to get a recall to open the innings instead of Smith. Sam Konstas, 19, has also shot to fame with twin tons in the Sheffield Shield, becoming the youngest since Ricky Ponting, who did it at 18 in 1993. Konstas has been named in Australia A squad against India A.
Harris slammed his 29th first-class century against Tasmania, while Bancroft got a pair of ducks against Queensland. Renshaw too had a middling outing, scoring six and 15.
The first Test will be played between November 22 and 26 in Perth.
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