Australian opener Usman Khawaja has been vocal about Steve Smith’s batting position in the Test team. Following the retirement of David Warner, Smith was promoted to the top of the order, a move that has not been universally accepted. Smith’s performance as an opener in Tests has been inconsistent, raising questions ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. The reconfiguration of the batting line-up has allowed Australia to field their top six batsmen, with Cameron Green taking Smith’s previous spot at No. 4.
Despite Smith's willingness to bat anywhere in the order, Khawaja insists the former captain should return to the No. 4 position.
“I'll probably never say it, so I'll say it for him. The opening slot is very important… (but) I still think we have the best Test player of my era in the team, Steve Smith, and his best position has been number four. I feel that's his best position. I feel the best balance for our team is (Marnus) Labuschagne three, Smith four,” Khawaja was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.
Khawaja noted a noticeable decline in Australia's scores since the lineup change.
In the eight innings following Warner's retirement, Australia surpassed the 300-run mark only once.
“For me, the number one consideration is 'what's best for the team?' Which order allows us to score more runs? And if you look at how many runs we scored with Davey Warner in the team and Smudge batting fourth, we scored a lot of runs. With Smudge as an opener, we still won matches, but I don't think we scored as many runs as we could have,” Khawaja added.
Smith's individual performances as an opener have also been disappointing, with just one fifty in eight innings and an average of 28.50, compared to his impressive average of 61.51 at No. 4.
The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test taking place in Perth.
The second Test, scheduled for December 6-10 at the Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under the stadium lights. Fans will then turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test, which will be held from December 14-18.
The traditional Boxing Day Test, scheduled for December 26-30 at Melbourne's historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, will take the series into its penultimate stage.
The fifth and final Test, which will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3-7, will serve as the climax of the series and promises a dramatic conclusion to an exciting competition.
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