Australian batsman Steve Smith explained that he moved to the opening position after David Warner retired because he dislikes having to wait to bat. Smith raised his hand and offered to go to the top of the batting order among a number of established players, including Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, and others who have opened in white-ball cricket. Beginning on January 17 at Adelaide, this new-look squad will play two Test matches against the West Indies without Warner.
The decision to start Smith at first was made by the selectors because it allowed Cameron Green, a batting all-arounder who had been sidelined in favour of an effective Marsh, to return to the number four spot. Throughout his sixteen-year first-class career, Smith has never opened in a Test match. He is accustomed to the new, swinging ball performing its tricks, though. The bright and shiny cherry frequently put Smith to the test during the 2019 Ashes, and at Lord’s, he didn’t have to wait until the 23rd over to begin batting. Throughout the series, he batted at number four and amassed 774 runs in four matches, including three hundreds and three fifties.
“I have been waiting to bat for quite a long time and I do not really like waiting to bat since I guess Marnus [Labuschagne] has been playing at number three,” Smith said to Fox Cricket on Friday while representing the Sydney Sixers, as reported by ESPNCricinfo. “So I thought, why do not I put my hand up and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you are playing your six best batters so hopefully it works out,” he said. Smith believes he can always draw inspiration from his success in the 2019 Ashes and is eager to take on the new ball.
“I’m thrilled. I enjoy taking on the more recent ball. If you go back to the 2019 Ashes, I believe that I was facing the new ball for the most of the match. It’s nothing new or unfamiliar to me because I batted number three for a number of years as well. I was in early and did fairly well against the new ball. I enjoy going in there and being involved, so I’m looking forward to the challenge,” he continued. After playing Pakistan in a three-match Test series, Warner recently announced his retirement from Test and ODI cricket. Warner believes that Smith will have an advantage when he opens because more traditional bowling and strategies early in the innings will allow him to score freely.
While they haven’t resulted in Smith’s dismissal, opponents’ strategies of using bouncers from around the wicket and stacked leg-side fields have slowed Smith’s rate of scoring in recent years. “He likes to walk cross and get onto legside and get it away there,” Warner stated. “When he first enters, people have been bowling short to him. Nevertheless, he manages. They will attempt to pitch the ball up and swing it early on. He will also be permitted to enter his strategy and game plan. Once you get into his preferred batting rhythm, he will be able to dictate. Therefore, I am eager to watch how he does,” he continued.
According to Warner, Smith and Usman Khawaja have one or two more Test years left before they can play in the home Ashes in 2025–2026. Warner has supported Green’s return to the team, even though Matt Renshaw has been targeted as the team’s future opener. “It is a good taste for Greeny…24 years of age,” he stated. “They will need to search for two new individuals at the top of the hierarchy. But that’s your base at three and four if you want to also get that No. 4 replacement. They will therefore have a base in the middle if they can knuckle that down. After that, they simply search for a few more openers,” he said.
Tour match: January 10-13, Karen Rolton Oval
First Test: Adelaide Oval, January 17–21
Second Test: Gabba, January 25–29
Australia’s Test team: Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins (captain).
The West Indies Test team consists of the following players: Gudakesh Motie, Kemar Roach, Kevin Sinclair, Tevin Imlach, Shamar Joseph, Zachary McCaskie, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Kirk McKenzie, Alick Athanaze, Kavem Hodge, Justin Greaves, Joshua DaSilva, Akeem Jordan, and Gudakesh Motie.
