‌IND vs AUS | Steve Smith to relinquish opening slot for middle order role in Border Gavaskar Trophy

After a three-man conference ahead of Australia’s packed Test summer, National selector George Bailey confirmed the change in role for Smith ahead of the five-match Test series against India at home, that is a part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship. Smith, who filled the void at the top spot with Khawaja after David Warner’s farewell Test in Sydney, will revert back to the original No. 4 position. He mustered an unbridled 91 against West Indies in his second Test batting as an opener before returning with poor numbers against New Zealand in the Trans Tasmanian rivalry, scoring just 51 runs in four innings.

“Pat, Andrew, and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green). Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer,” Bailey expressed. 

With Cameron Green ruled out with an injury, the No. 4 spot was there to be filled. However, it is learned that Smith’s revert back to his original position was a plan being discussed even before Green’s setback. This leaves the Aussie selectors with four potential options to open the batting along with Khawaja. 

Sam Konstas, who was drafted into the Australia A side right after his twin double tons in his five-match First Class career, is one of the players to watch out for. The 19-year-old became the first Australian to do so since an 18-year-old Ricky Ponting hit twin centuries in 1993. The other candidates for the opening slot are Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Cameron Bancroft.