"He’ll just probably never say it. So I’ll say it for him" - Usman Khawaja feels Smith is best suited to bat at No.4 in red-ball cricket
Australian opener Usman Khawaja has reiterated his stance surrounding teammate Steve Smith's batting position in the Test team. Smith was promoted to the top of the order after David Warner's retirement, but the decision has not been widely accepted due to various factors.
Smith has been hot and cold as an opening batter in Tests, and Australia have a huge decision to make regarding the same ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. Tinkering with the batting lineup has allowed the Aussies to play their six best batters, with Cameron Green taking over from Smith at No. 4.
Despite Smith mentioning he is willing to bat anywhere in the lineup, Khawaja reckoned that is not the case, and the former skipper should be batting at No. 4.
He’ll just probably never say it. So I’ll say it for him. Opening is a very important spot … (but) I still think we have the best Test player of my era in the side, in Steve Smith, and his best spot has been number four. I feel like that’s his best spot. I feel like the best balance for our team is (Marnus) Labuschagne three, Smith four," Khawaja told Fox Cricket.
Khawaja noted Australia's dip in scores after the change was made to the batting unit. Since Warner's retirement, Australia have crossed the 300-run mark only once in eight innings.
“For me, the number one consideration is ‘what’s best for the team?’. What order scores us the most runs? And if you look at how many runs we scored with Davey Warner in the team and Smudge batting at four, we scored a lot of runs. With Smudge opening, we’ve still won games, but I don’t think we’ve scored as many runs as we could’ve," he added
Smith has scored one fifty in eight outings as an opener in Tests. He averages 28.50 in the position, compared to the imperious figure of 61.51 at his trademark No. 4 spot.
"I feel like Travis Head might be best suited" - Usman Khawaja tips Travis Head to be his new red-ball opening partner
With Australia's reluctance to part with their best six batters, another reshuffle with the same personnel is on the cards if Smith returns to No. 4. Although there is still time left for the next Test, Travis Head has been touted by several to open the innings in the longest format as well.
"At the end of the day, it’s a decision for the selectors. But if you have me opening, Labuschagne three, Smith four … I feel like Travis Head might be best suited. He’s obviously been very successful opening the batting in one-day cricket and, breaking it down, I’d probably lean towards him. But again, it’s not my decision," Khawaja opined in the same interaction.
Khawaja added Australia must protect their best batter - Smith - rather than throw him up against challenging conditions and the new-ball threat.
"But when you’ve got your best batsman, you want to protect him. And in Australia, the hardest time to bat, by far, is that first hour. New Kookaburra ball, new wicket, it’s always the hardest time – I don’t care who you are. And don’t get me wrong, Steve Smith will score runs as an opening batsman. But will he score more batting number four? I reckon he will," Khawaja concluded.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald recently said no decision has been made regarding Smith's batting position, but admitted that internal discussions are underway.