Steven Smith is being moved down the order in Australia’s cricket team for the much awaited Border-Gavaskar series against India.
Prior to Cameron Green’s injury, Smith had asked to return to his comfortable middle-order position, as acknowledged by George Bailey, Australia’s chair of selectors.
Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, confirmed that Steven Smith had expressed his wish to slide back down the order and that it was planned to be accommodated even before Cameron Green’s injury. As a result, Smith will not start the batting against India in the Border-Gavaskar series.
Since Australia’s most recent Test series against New Zealand in March, there had been conjecture regarding Smith’s batting position after his eight innings at the top of the order had produced a meager 171 runs at 28.50.
Bailey confirmed that Smith had asked for a return to the middle-order before Green’s back injury that ended his summer, even though Smith had made the original request to open the batting back in January, which allowed Green to take his place at No. 4. Smith had discussed this request with coach Andrew McDonald and captain Pat Cummins.
“Pat, Andrew, and Steven Smith had been having ongoing conversations separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway,” Bailey stated on Monday following the release of the Australia A team for the India A tour and the ODI squad for the Pakistan series.
Additionally, I believe Steve had stated his intention to resign from that vacant post. He will be moving back down the list for the summer, according to confirmation from Pat and Andrew. Therefore, it is evident that we need to fill both an opening and a No. 4 place.
Bailey was careful to underline that Cummins and McDonald made the batting order decisions and did not confirm that Smith would play at No. 4 in the first Test match against India, which begins in Perth on November 22. With five weeks until the first ball is bowled, he added, the order is still subject to change.
Although he would not reveal how they would have arranged the top six had Green been healthy, Bailey did imply that Smith would have moved regardless of Green’s injury.
“Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like,” he stated. “But I guess once you do get moving parts, a lot of those conversations become null and void.”
When asked if the need for an additional bowling option in the top six was necessary, given Green’s absence and concerns about Mitchell Marsh’s bowling ability, Bailey was quick to point out that Australia’s attack had previously played without an all-rounder. It appears highly likely that Australia’s selectors will choose an opener to replace Green and put Smith back in his preferred position.
“They’ve done it in the past,” stated Bailey. You can’t predict how each Test will affect the quicks’ workload or how much of an impact Nathan Lyon will have over the course of the summer. We have undoubtedly been and will continue to get Mitch Marsh ready to bowl some overs as well; this has been a component of his build and management over the past few months. Thus, there are alternative methods. We are a team that has played without an all-rounder in the past, although other teams have also played. A team can be structured in a number of ways.
Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas, the teenage sensation from New South Wales, were the three openers selected for the 17-man Australia A team that will play India A in two four-day matches beginning on October 31 and November 7. All eyes will then be on Australia’s domestic openers to see who will stand out from the crowd and earn a spot alongside Usman Khawaja.
The absence of Matt Renshaw from the A squad should be interpreted as a sign that they have moved on from him, according to Bailey. Renshaw was the backup batsman in Australia’s Test team for the country’s previous two series against the West Indies and New Zealand after David Warner retired.
“No, we still really like Matt’s ability to play,” Bailey stated. “In terms of Australia A selection, part of the process involves looking for short-term opportunities for any that may arise, but we also make sure to keep an eye on creating opportunities for those players who might play significant roles in the future.
“So whilst there’s an Australia A squad there, I think Matt Renshaw, Pete Handscomb, Nic Maddinson as three examples are guys who we’ll continue to watch really closely in Shield cricket.”
After his twin hundreds in the first Shield round, Bailey did imply that the 19-year-old Konstas would be able to compete for India’s opening berth if he keeps up his performance.
“He’s in the mix as are plenty of others,” stated Bailey. “I don’t want to single him out, for sure. I believe that Marcus Harris and Cam Bancroft have both looked at Test cricket and have been consistent over a number of years. Therefore, I don’t believe that Sam needs to be under any unnecessary strain right now.
“His first-class career has lasted five games. He has gotten off to a strong start, and it appears that he has a well-planned game that we are eager to witness at the A level. We will just keep an eye on things as they develop.”
Bailey added that Bancroft will not be penalized for his unfortunate pair against Queensland in the first round of the Shield season.
“I spoke to Cam after that game, I sort of jokingly said to him, if he [wasn’t] in such good nick, he might have played and missed those as well,” Bailey said. That might therefore be a very positive indication for the remainder of the summer. Many batters have succeeded in getting a feather on an early Michael Neser ball. Thus, no damage was done. There is no doubt that he has bank account credits. Like many of the other athletes I listed, he has been incredibly consistent over the years. Such a one-time game was not going to make a difference.