Image Credit- AFP
Steven Smith has explained why he wants to open in
Test cricket, and it’s rather straightforward: he doesn’t want to wait.
The selectors ultimately decided to take Smith’s
choice to go up the order in order to replace David Warner, as he was the only
current player to publicly express his desire to do so. This move also allowed
them to reinstate Cameron Green at No. 4.
Beginning on January 17, the first Test match between
Australia and the West Indies will feature the revised batting order for the
first time.
In his 16-year career, Smith has never opened in a
Test or First Class match, but he is accustomed to facing a nearly brand-new
ball, especially while batting at No. 3. But he pointed to the 2019 Ashes, in
which he was ranked No. 4, as an instance of how he was often tested early in
an innings; in those four Tests (of which he missed one due to a concussion),
the highest total and the longest wait he had came when he was brought on at
Lord’s at 60 for 2.
“Since I guess Marnus [Labuschagne] has been
playing at No. 3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time and
I don’t really like waiting to bat,” he told Fox Cricket while playing for
Sydney Sixers on Friday night. “So I thought, why don’t I put my hand up
and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you’re
playing your six best batters so hopefully it works out.
“I am [excited]. I like facing the newer ball. I
think if you look back to the 2019 Ashes I was in pretty early most of the time
there where I was facing the new ball. I batted No. 3 for a number of years as
well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball so it’s nothing
new or foreign to me. You know I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it
and yeah, I’m looking forward to that challenge.”