Melbourne, Oct 14: Veteran Australia batter Steve Smith is set to return to his favoured number four position after a short stint as an opener in the upcoming Test series against India, national selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday.
Post opener David Warner’s retirement earlier this year, Smith had volunteered to open the innings.
Although he made an unbeaten 91 in only his second Test in the new role, the 35-year-old didn’t fare well in the series against New Zealand, collecting a total of 51 runs in four innings.
Bailey confirmed that Smith expressed his desire to return to the middle order to captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald, who have decided to accommodate the batter’s request.
“Pat (Cummins), Andrew (McDonald)and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green),” Bailey was quoted as saying by ‘cricket.com.au’.
While Bailey didn’t say where Smith will bat in the middle order, the former captain is likely to slot in at number four.
The opportunity to return to his former position arose after all-rounder Cameron Green, who had taken over Smith’s role at number four, opted for lower back surgery that will keep him out for six months.
However, Bailey noted that the decision to shift Smith was under consideration even before Green was ruled out for the summer.
“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 added. (PTI)
