AUS vs WI: 'Second-Greatest' Steve Smith Shouldn't Open For Australia In Tests, Feels Usman Khawaja

Australian opener Usman Khawaja is not really up to see Steve Smith opening the innings for the team in the Tests. He believes that the right-hander is the second-best batter at No.4 and he doesn’t want the middle-order batter to sacrifice his position.

The opening position in Test format for the Australian team is up for grabs and there’s no clarity as to who will open for the team. David Warner hung his boots after the Pakistan series and left a massive void at the top order for the team in the format.

Steve Smith, however, has put his hands up and has expressed his desire to open the innings. The right-hander no doubt is one of the great Test batters of our generation and no doubt he can be successful for the team while opening as well. But batting at the top is altogether a different challenge.

Steve Smith has aced the Test format while batting No.4 and him batting at that position has also benefitted Australia a lot. The right-hander has often bailed the team out of trouble when the openers were back in the hut and him moving to the top could leave the void in the middle order. But if he opens the innings, this allows Australia to play Cameron Green as well.

Usman Khawaja strongly believes that Steve Smith will be able to ace the opening position. But he doesn’t want the batter to sacrifice his position. Speaking to Cricket.com.au, he explained:

“I say it’s a specialist position in brackets, but anyone who can bat in the top four can open. I just wouldn’t want to sacrifice someone who is in my opinion the second-greatest ever Test batsman off the position that he’s been batting in for so long. The beauty of Smith is he’s a beautiful No. 4 batsman. He can bat against pace. He’s really good against spin.”

AUS vs PAK: He really wants it, he wants that motivation – Marnus Labuschagne on Steve Smith opening

Marnus Labuschagne on the other hand wants Steve Smith to open the innings in the Test. He highlighted how the batter’s average gets better as he bats up the order. He believes that Smith will do very well at the top. Speaking to Sen Cricket, he explained:

“He (Smith) averages 58 at five, 61 at four and 67 at three, so it seems like the higher he goes the more he averages. I’ve got no doubt if that’s the way we went, he would do very well. He really wants it, he wants that motivation… waiting to bat is not his forte, he wants to get out there straight away.”

There have been several reports which have stated that Australian management is keen to open with Steve Smith. However, they have Cameron Green also in the ranks along with Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Harris, and Cameron Bancroft. All the answers will be cleared when Australia take on West Indies in the two-match Test series, starting on 17th January.