AUS Vs WI: Pat Cummins Rejects Steve Smith's Wish To Open Alongside Usman Khawaja

As the Australian team goes on searching for a new test opener to pair alongside Usman Khawaja, as many as 4 players are currently leading the race to replace David Warner with Steve Smith being among those. However, his captain Pat Cummins has rejected his proposal to open for the Baggy Greens and joined head coach Andrew McDonald in his argument of not disrupting the team balance.

David Warner retired from the red-ball format after Australia whitewashed Pakistan by 3-0 in the final test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Warner leaves test cricket after scoring 8786 runs since making his debut way back in 2011. He is regarded as Australia’s greatest test opener and replacing him will be a tough job for the Aussie management.

The likes of Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, and Marcus Harris are currently leading the race to replace Warner up the order with number 4 batter Steve Smith recently expressing his desire to take up that role. Though his head coach Andrew McDonald in a recent interview appreciated Smith for taking the onus but also claimed that it would be difficult to send him to open as it might disrupt the team balance.

He rested his case by indicating that Smith is most likely to bat at number 3 or 4. McDonald has now found the support of captain Pat Cummins who has also shrugged off all the talks of Steve Smith opening with Usman Khawaja by making it clear that he is happy with the current composition of Labuschagne, Smith, Head, and Marsh coming in and performing well at the No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 positions.

“I’m pretty happy with Smith’s output at No.4. Obviously Marnus, Smudge, Trav, and Marsh have been pretty impressive at Nos. 3,4,5 and 6. So first instinct isn’t probably to disrupt that (order).” – Cummins said.

But Steve Smith’s teammate Marnus Labuschagne claimed that Smith might as well do very well as an opener, highlighting his batting average when he moves up the order and hailed him as someone who wants to express himself right off.

“He averages 58 at 5, 61 at 4, and 67 at 3, so it seems like the higher he goes, the more he averages. He will do really well. He really wants it, he wants that motivation, waiting to bat is not his forte, he wants to get out there straightaway.” – Labuschagne said.

Selectors To Meet Tomorrow To Gamble On Names Of Steve Smith, Bancroft, Renshaw And Harris

Meanwhile, amid all the opinions from Australia’s team members, the selection committee led by George Bailey is all set for a meeting tomorrow to determine the squad that will welcome West Indies for a 2-match test series, starting from 17th January.

While it is unlikely for Steve Smith to open with Khawaja, the selectors will gamble on the names of Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, and Marcus Harris and there is an indication that All-Rounder Cameron Green could also be backed to take up the opening slot. As of now, Cameron Bancroft looks like the favorite, owing to his record in the first-class circuit, scoring 512 runs in 9 innings last year.