Image Credit- CA
When some argued that Steven Smith shouldn’t be
opening for Australia in Test matches, he had the ideal retort.
Usman Khawaja, the 34-year-old who replaced David
Warner in the top order, had a lacklustre first three innings before nearly
getting Australia over the finish line and averting the historic eight-run
upset by the West Indies at the Gabba.
Smith maintains he didn’t overthink his opening
strategy despite having hit 27 of his 32 Test hundreds at No. 3 or No. 4.
The standout batsman for Australia blasted an
undefeated 91 in the second innings on Sunday, feeling “comfortable”
as an opener after scoring 12, 11 not out, and 6.
“There was a lot of commentary around I’d failed
in two or three innings – I had a not out and two low scores,” Smith said
at the MCG on Wednesday. “Now I’m averaging 60 as an opener.
“It was just another position; I’ve battled
against the new ball numerous times, coming in early. I’ve enjoyed the first
couple of weeks of it…if they see fit to move me back down, I’ll do whatever
the team needs.”
Smith, who became the first Australian to carry his
bat since Warner in 2011, was the only player to handle West Indies’ newest
pace sensation Shamar Joseph. The 24-year-old tore through Australia with 7 for
68 to spearhead the tourists to an extraordinary first Test victory down under
since 1997.
“I overheard a conversation, I think we were
seven down just before lunch and I overheard him speaking to [West Indies
captain] Kraigg [Brathwaite]… he’s [Joseph] like, ‘I’m bowling to the end,
man’,” Smith said.
“He’s a rare talent and I think it’s great for
cricket what he was able to do and see the West Indies competing like they did.
He just kept coming in, and actually probably bowled faster at the end rather
than the start.”