Australia Head Coach McDonald Uncertain On Steve Smith’s Batting Spot

The upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, starting on November 22, is generating a lot of anticipation.

The series kicks off with the first Test in Perth, marking a pivotal moment for both teams. Australia will be looking to break India’s recent dominance, as India has won the last four series in a row, including two famous victories on Australian soil in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.

Historically, India has been the more successful side in recent editions, having won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 10 times, compared to Australia’s five wins, with Australia’s last triumph in the 2014-15 season and their last series win in India dating back to 2004-05.

Ahead of the series, Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald spoke about the uncertainty surrounding Steve Smith’s batting position in the Test lineup.

During an interview, McDonald acknowledged the speculation but emphasized that no firm decisions have been made regarding Smith’s spot. He mentioned that discussions about various aspects of the team’s lineup are ongoing as they prepare for the Test summer, which includes both domestic Sheffield Shield matches and the crucial international series.

“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? Whilst we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one. There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I’d be lying if I said the conversation wasn’t happening. There are conversations around a lot of what ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come,” McDonald quoted.

“We’ll unveil everything, and we’ll let (NSW coach) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we’ll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play Shield cricket,” he added.

The five-match series will feature several high-profile venues, including a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval (December 6-10) and the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26-30). The final Test, scheduled at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, will bring the series to a thrilling conclusion.

With India’s recent dominance and Australia’s preparations, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy promises to be a fiercely competitive and exciting contest.