Former Australia captain Tim Paine has expressed his belief that opposition teams would prefer to see Steven Smith continue to open the batting, following his recent struggles in the role. However, Paine does not anticipate any change in Smith’s position for the upcoming series against India later this year.
Despite Smith’s challenges during the tour of New Zealand, where he scored just 51 runs at an average of 12.75, Paine remains confident in Smith’s ability to succeed as an opener. Smith’s performance in New Zealand has sparked debate over his role in the team, with questions raised about whether his best cricket is behind him.
Paine acknowledged that as an opposition player, he would prefer to see Smith opening the batting, as it would allow the best bowlers to face him with a new ball. Paine recalled Smith’s dominance batting at number four in previous series, where he seemed almost impossible to dismiss.
Tim Paine said
“I look at it, that if I was playing against Australia, where would I prefer Steve Smith to bat? If I’m the opposition, I want him opening the batting,” Paine told ESPN’s Around The Wicket. “I want my best bowlers at their freshest with a brand new ball. I was in that Ashes in 2019 and went to England with him in another one and when he was at his best batting at four you just felt he couldn’t get out.”
“I would love to see him succeed as an opener, I think he can, there’s no doubt about that, he’s good enough to bat anywhere, but as an opposition player I want him at the top of the order because that gives me the best chance of getting him out.”
Smith’s move to the top of the order was prompted by David Warner’s retirement, which allowed Cameron Green to return at number four and make an impact with a brilliant unbeaten 174 in the first Test against New Zealand.
Despite criticism of Smith’s early performances as an opener, Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald defended him, calling the criticism “unfair” and emphasizing that judging him based on four Tests was too harsh.
“I don’t think anything changes,” Paine said of Australia’s batting order. “[Smith] is probably one of three or four players who has ever played for Australia who can probably do what he’s doing at the moment. He’s earned the right, in my opinion, to bat wherever he wants and if he wants, and is driven enough, to be Australia’s Test opener I think he’ll make it work and you’ll see him come out next summer and dominate.”
Looking ahead to the series against India, Paine believes that Smith has earned the right to bat wherever he wants in the order. He expressed confidence that if Smith is driven enough to succeed as an opener, he will make it work and dominate in the upcoming summer.
Australia’s next Test series against India is scheduled for late November, where Smith could face a formidable pace attack consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.
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