George Bailey, Australia’s head selector, has announced that Steve Smith would open the batting in the first Test against the West Indies in Adelaide.
The elevation of the customary No. 4 hitter resolves the huge problem for the Australians in their quest to replace David Warner, who just resigned from Tests.
Smith will bat first alongside Usman Khawaja, with all-rounder Cameron Green batting at No. 4.
With a tongue in cheek when questioned if it was an experiment, Bailey said, “Everything is an experiment.”
That has been discussed with Steve Smith, and I believe he wants this to be a big chapter in his career.
We don’t look too far ahead since, for the most part, Steve Smith wants to stay here.
Bailey also stated that the task of opening the batting in red-ball cricket was an ‘itch that Smith would like to scratch’.
It’s unselfish for someone who has had so much success in one or two places in the middle order to be open, eager, and hungry to try something new and different, he added.
Smith, one of the finest of his time, has never started a Test innings.
He has come closest to No. 3 with 1,744 runs in 29 innings at an average of 67.08.
We’ve all moved on from George Bailey on Cameron Bancroft instead of Steve Smith amid the sandpaper fiasco
Cameron Bancroft, the youngest player involved in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018, was one of the options discussed for the opening berth.
Bancroft’s non-selection for the series, according to Bailey, was strictly a cricketing concern.
There is no disagreement between the players and Bancroft. And I’ve told Cameron about it several times, Bailey added.
It’s never been considered; it’s solely a cricketing decision, according to the panel. There isn’t a single member of the squad who would object to Cam participating.
We have no objections to it at all. Many people seem to forget that Cam has played Test cricket after returning from his ban.
Steve Smith has been a long time. We’ve all moved on from it. I’d be unhappy if folks used it as a reason why that isn’t the case.
Bailey noted that it has never been and will never be.
Australia and the West Indies begin their two-match Test series on January 17.
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