Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne HATED me, wanted me behind them: Steve Smith

Australia National Cricket Team superstar batsman Steve Smith has revealed that his teammates Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne absolutely hated him opening the innings in Test cricket.

Steve Smith also revealed that he is happy to bat at any position for Australia National Cricket Team but his preferred position is No.4 where he has had a lot of success.

Steve Smith Became Australia Opener In Tests After David Warner's Retirement

Steve Smith has batted at many different spots for Australia in Test cricket. Apart from opening the innings, he has batted at No.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

He has been most successful at No.3, 4, and 5 with his most runs coming at No.4 as he has scored 5966 runs at an average of 61.50 while his best average is at No.3 - 67.07 - and he has scored 1744 runs at that spot

Meanwhile, after the retirement of David Warner, the decision was made to promote Steve Smith up the order to accommodate Cameron Green in the middle. The move, however, didn't pay off as in 8 innings, Smith scored just 171 runs at an average of 28.50.

I got asked where I'd prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn't ask [to move] though - Steve Smith

A few days back, it was confirmed by Australia chief selector George Bailey that Steve Smith would move back to No.4 in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He had stated that Steve Smith "had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position."

However, Smith has denied Bailey's claim, saying that he never formally requested to return to No.4. He added that he was just asked about his preferred batting position to which he responded No.4.

"I got asked where I'd prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn't ask [to move] though. I also said I'm happy batting wherever. I'm not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I've requested to bat at four. That wasn't the case. I said I'm happy to bat wherever you'd like me to bat but, yeah, four would be my ideal position."

Cameron Green is all set to miss the BGT 2024-25 due to recent surgery that he underwent and Steve Smith feels that Green's unavailability to go with Khawaja and Marnus being against him opening played a part in the switch in his batting position. He elaborated:

"Obviously there's a spot there now with Greeny [Cameron Green] out. And I think just conversations we had after New Zealand with particularly Marnus and Uzi, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them.

"They just like the...they call it security behind them, in a way. They were pretty strong on me not batting there. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously, I've got a decent record at four.

"It was good fun having a crack at something new, batting up top. I still feel like I could do a job there for sure. It was a pretty small sample size. But I've done pretty well at four for a number of years now. I feel like it's probably where I can have my best input for this team at the moment."

I said it when I took that job, I'm not really fussed where I bat - Steve Smith

When asked if he could have continued opening for the team, the right-handed batsman said that he is not fussed about it and is ready to do whatever his team wants him to. He stated:

"Honestly, I'm not that fussed. I said it when I took that job, I'm not really fussed where I bat. The conversations I had with the other guys, they didn't like it at all.

"They wanted some security, I suppose, behind them, where I've done really well for a number of years, and I can understand that as well. So it is what it is and I'm not going to be opening this summer. That's it."