As the Australian team continues to search for a new Test opener to pair with Usman Khawaja, up to 4 players are currently leading the race to replace David Warner, including Steve Smith. However, their captain Pat Cummins rejected his offer to open for the Baggy Greens and joined head coach Andrew McDonald in arguing not to upset the team’s balance.
David Warner retired from the red ball format after Australia whitewashed Pakistan 3-0 in the final test played at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Warner leaves Test cricket after scoring 8786 runs since he made his debut in 2011. He is considered Australia’s best Test opener and replacing him will be a tough job for the Australian management.
The likes of Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris are currently leading the race to replace Warner in the order and No. 4 batsman Steve Smith recently expressed his desire to take on that role. Although his head coach, Andrew McDonald, in a recent interview thanked Smith for taking the responsibility, but also stated that it would be difficult to send him to the fly-half as he could upset the balance of the team.
He made his case stating that Smith is more likely to bat at number 3 or 4. McDonald has now found support from captain Pat Cummins, who has also ignored all talk of Steve Smith opening with Usman Khawaja, leaving It is clear that he is happy with the current composition of Labuschagne, Smith, Head and Marsh who arrived and performed well in positions 3, 4, 5 and 6.
“I’m very happy with Smith’s performance at No. 4. Obviously, Marnus, Smudge, Trav and Marsh have been pretty impressive at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. So the first instinct probably isn’t to upset that ( order)”. – Cummins said.
But Steve Smith’s teammate Marnus Labuschagne said Smith could also do very well as a starter, noting his batting average when moving up the order and hailing him as someone who wants to express himself immediately.
“He averages 58 on the 5, 61 on the 4 and 67 on the 3, so it seems like the higher he goes, the more he averages. He will do very well. He really wants it, he wants that motivation, waiting to hit is not his strong suit, he wants to get out right away.” – said Labuschagne.
The selectors will meet tomorrow to bet on the names of Steve Smith, Bancroft, Renshaw and Harris
Meanwhile, amid all the opinions of the Australian team members, the George Bailey-led selection committee will meet tomorrow to determine the team that will host the West Indies for a two-match Test series, starting on the 17th. from January.
While Steve Smith is unlikely to open with Khawaja, the selectors will be banking on the names of Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris and there are indications that all-rounder Cameron Green could also be backed for the starting spot. . As of now, Cameron Bancroft looks like the favorite, due to his record on the top circuit, scoring 512 runs in 9 innings last year.
