"Love To See Him On The Opening Spot": Shane Watson Backs Steve Smith Ahead Of BGT

October 9, 2024: The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, set to begin on November 22, 2024, has already sparked significant discussions, especially around Australia's batting lineup.

One notable point of debate has been Steve Smith's role as an opener, a position he took on after the retirement of David Warner.

Shane Watson, former Australian all-rounder, has thrown his support behind Smith staying at the top of the order, despite the batter's inconsistent performances so far.

"Steve Smith made the call to be able to go and open, and I think he should stay there. The safety blanket for him would be moving back to No. 4, but I would love to see him continue to take on the opening spot because he's got the skill to be able to do it," Watson said.

Smith's stint as an opener has produced a modest 171 runs at an average of 28.50 from four Tests, including a standout 91 against the West Indies. Watson believes Smith has the technical prowess to succeed in the role, citing his temporary struggles as more of a technical issue, which he feels the 35-year-old would have worked on by now.

Australia faces a daunting challenge, as India has dominated the series in recent years. India has won the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy series consecutively, including two away series victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. Overall, India leads the trophy count with 10 wins, compared to Australia's five, with the Aussies' last series win coming in 2014-15. In India, Australia hasn’t triumphed since their iconic series win in 2004-05.

The series schedule is packed with key matchups:

1st Test: November 22–26 at Perth.

2nd Test: December 6–10 at Adelaide (day-night Test).

3rd Test: December 14–18 at Brisbane (The Gabba).

4th Test: December 26–30 at Melbourne (Boxing Day Test).

5th Test: January 3–7 at Sydney (series finale).

With this intense backdrop and high stakes, all eyes will be on whether Smith can reclaim his dominant form as an opener and help Australia break India's streak in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.