In a totally unanticipated revelation, Steve Smith has said that he is “pretty keen” to take up the opening slot in the Test side after David Warner’s retirement. Smith said he will have a chat with the skipper Pat Cummins, the coach, and the selectors about his interest in taking up a new role at this stage of his career.
Warner will be retiring from Test cricket at the end of the ongoing Sydney Test against Pakistan. Warner’s replacement has been a talking point the entire Australian summer. Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw, three regular openers in domestic first-class cricket, are in contention, while Cameron Green, who has been on the bench since Mitchell Marsh’s stunning return, is a left-field choice.
Steve Smith has never batted as an opener in Test
Speaking at the end of Day 3 at the SCG, Steve Smith expressed a strong desire to make a move from number 4, where he has had most of his success in Test cricket, to opening the batting, something he has never done in his Test career, although he does average 67 in 17 Test matches at number 3.
“I’m actually happy to go up the top. I’m pretty keen if that’s what they want to do. I’m sure the selectors and Ron [Andrew McDonald] and Patty [Cummins] will have a chat after this game but yeah, I’m certainly interested for sure,” Smith told ABC Grandstand on Friday.
Steve Smith started his career as a leg-spinner who could bat in the lower-order. He slowly moved up in the order. He averages 61 in 67 Tests at number 4 and 67 in 17 Tests at number 3. There are reports of the Australian selectors looking at Cameron Green as the next opening option as his services can’t be utilized when he is on the bench.
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Smith has not got going against Pakistan in the series so far, scoring 190 runs in 5 innings with a highest of 50.
After Pakistan, Australia host West Indies for 2 Tests and then tour New Zealand for two Tests.
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