Australia head coach Andrew McDonald remained tight-lipped about their plans for Steve Smith in the home summer, starting with a much-anticipated five-Test series against India. McDonald said conversations about Smith’s role as an opener have been taking place in the team management and that a final call will be taken closer to the Test series.
India and Australia will play five Tests in the much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy from November 22. One of the biggest talking points in the lead-up to the Test series has been around Smith’s batting position. One of the leading Tests batters in the recent era, Smith has not found success as an opener. The former World No. 1 batter took up the opening spot after David Warner’s retirement and has averaged 28.50 in four Tests, contrary to his overall average of 56.97.
Steve Smith has played four Tests as an opener in 2024 — two against the West Indies and two against New Zealand — and has managed just one fifty-plus score.
“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? Whilst we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one. There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I’d be lying if I said the conversation wasn’t happening. There are conversations around a lot of what ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come,” McDonald told SEN.
TOP SIX STAYS INTACT
The Australian head coach, however, hinted that Australia’s top six — Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameorn Green and Mitchell Marsh — is likely to retain its place in the XI for the Test series against India.
“Clearly, if we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top. We’ve seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed on at the moment,” he added.
The Australian selectors will be keeping an eye on the Sheffield Shield season, starting October 8, to finalise spots in the Test team and identify back-ups. McDonald said the national team management will convey its plans to New South Wales and assess Smith’s progress for his club in the Sheild season.
““We’ll unveil everything, and we’ll let (NSW coach) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we’ll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play Shield cricket,” he said.
Australia will be raring to get their combination right as they look to end India’s dominance Down Under. India have not lost a Test series to Australia since 2014-15 and have won back-to-back Test series in the home of the opposition.