Veteran Australian hitter Steve Smith will open the opening Test against the West Indies, which begins on Wednesday, January 17, at the Adelaide Oval.
The top-order vacancy came after David Warner announced his retirement from red-ball cricket
during the third Test against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this month.
There were various candidates to succeed Warner as Test opener.
The list included Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, and Marcus Harris.
Smith, on the other hand, put his hat in the ring and was finally picked for the tough task, a decision endorsed by Chief Selector George Bailey.
The 34-year-old has played 105 Tests and has scored 9,514 runs at an average of 58.01 with 32 hundreds and 40 fifties.
He has a lot of experience, for sure.
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However, because the opening is a specialist position in Test cricket, cricket analysts are divided on
Smith’s choice to shift from the middle order to the top.
Former greats questioned Smith’s initial move
Kim Hughes, a former Australian captain, has expressed his strong displeasure with Smith’s choice.
According to him, the right-handed hitter is struggling and needs to regain his mojo by remaining at No. 4.
He also advocated for Bancroft to replace Warner as Test opener.
I do not doubt that Cameron Bancroft would be a Test player if he played for New South Wales.
Hughes told WA Sports that he is in his prime.
I never want to leave when I am handed out because I want to touch this, do this, and do that.
He’s like a whiny kid. Smith is currently suffering.
He has been an amazing superstar, but he is no more of an opener than I am.
He has to stay at No. 4, regain his mojo if you will, without all the frills,” he continued.
Hughes (69) represented Australia in 70 Tests, amassing 4,415 runs at an average of 37.41 with nine hundreds and 22 fifties.
Former South African captain Graeme Smith was similarly surprised by the Australian management’s decision to promote Smith as Test opener.
While hailing the Australian batter as a fantastic performer, the Proteas icon believes that the new ball may expose Smith too much.
Steve Smith is certainly eager to start.
But I’m astonished Australia chose to play him against the West Indies later this month.
He’s a terrific player, so you’d think he’d be able to adjust, but I’m concerned that the new ball
may expose him to too much, said the former South African opener to Betway.
He also suggested that Australia might have enabled Usman Khawaja to form a fresh partnership without sacrificing Smith’s runs in the middle order.
Another Proteas veteran, AB de Villiers, believes Australia made a mistake by agreeing to move Smith up the order in Test matches.
He noted that the 34-year-old had experienced all of his success in the middle order during the previous decade.
I am not sure if I agree with this. Where has he had the most success and the highest average among all hitters in the last 10 years?
He has won several games for Australia.
When bowlers take 2-3 early wickets, they still know they have to go past Steve Smith or otherwise he would win the game for his team.
Michael Clarke and Brian Lara have returned. Steve Smith will be the next Test opener
While players like Hughes and De Villiers oppose Australia’s choice to drop Smith, the opening move has its supporters as well.
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke made a bold prediction, claiming that Smith may shatter Brian Lara’s 400-run record if he begins the innings.
That’s how good he is. It might be the test he’s searching for.
If he opens, he will be the best opener in the next 12 months.
Clarke remarked on ESPN’s Around the Wicket Podcast, “Don’t be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara’s 400 records because
he’s that good and now he’s got the whole day.”
Lara has stated that he does not view Smith’s opening in Tests as a major issue.
Speaking on Fox Cricket’s podcast The Follow On, the West Indies veteran said Smith had the skill and mental strength to thrive as a Test opener.
Batting at number three or four, you must have the mindset that you can be out in the first over.
As a result, I don’t view it as an issue.
I don’t see a number six or seven batter getting to open, who is used to facing the ball as it gets older.
So I believe he’s got the technique. Lara believes he has the mental fortitude to succeed.
Lara, by the way, is the West Indies’ team mentor in their two-match Test series against Australia.
Former Australian captain Ian Chappell provided an in-depth analysis of the argument, as he does on most cricket-related matters.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports after Smith was named as Test opener, Chappell questioned why he felt the need to go up the order.
He also encouraged the committee to investigate Smith’s interest in the post.
Smith, batting in the middle order, had a mediocre Test series against Pakistan, making 194 runs in six innings at 38.80.
Regardless matter how he performs against the West Indies, he will undoubtedly spark a fresh argument!
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