Australian star Steve Smith batted at No.6 in his side's second innings of the Gabba Test against India on Wednesday (December 18), marking the first time in over a decade that he had done so.
In a match repeatedly interrupted by rain, day five began with India at 252-9 in their first innings, trailing by 193 runs having narrowly avoided the possibility of following on the previous evening – thanks to a defiant last-wicket stand between Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah.
More rain was predicted on the final day, and showers arrived to wash out the remainder of the first session soon after India were bowled out for 260.
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Australia came out to bat after lunch, with the possibility of forcing a win still open: if they could score quickly enough to build up a cushion of runs, and give themselves enough overs to bowl India out.
The pattern of dismissals in the innings seemed to reflect that they were indeed attempting to do so. Usman Khawaja was undone by Jasprit Bumrah in rather more conventional fashion, but Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan McSweeney both edged off to short, wide deliveries, and Mitchell Marsh hung his bat outside off stump to nick behind.
Australia shuffled their batting order in this innings, moving Marsh up to No.4 – the spot occupied by Steve Smith, who had also scored his first Test century in over a year in the first innings of the match. Travis Head retained his spot at No.5, and Smith batted at Marsh's usual No.6 spot.
With quick runs the need of the hour, Australia may have felt the likes of Marsh and Head were better-suited to the task than Smith, as naturally aggressive players. If there was a collapse, Smith could come in later on and steady the innings as well.
Of course, Smith did start his Test career as a lower-order batter, having been picked primarily as a leg spinner in the early days. The last time he batted as low as No.6 in Test cricket, though, was against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2014. Even on that occasion, Smith had been slotted in at No.5, but moved down one spot after Nathan Lyon was sent in at No.3 as a nightwatch.
As it happened on Wednesday, Smith only survived five balls, caught behind down the leg side off Mohammed Siraj for four. Australia declared at 89-7, setting India 274.
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