"I’ve always loved Steve Smith batting at No. 4" - Usman Khawaja on ace batter's position in the Australian lineup
Australian batter Usman Khawaja has admitted to preferring Steve Smith to bat at No. 4 rather than as an opener in the side's Test line-up. Smith has opened the batting for Australia in Tests since the retirement of David Warmer after the home series against Pakistan at the start of 2024.
However, the champion batter has struggled at the top of the order, scoring only 171 runs at an average of 28.50 with a lone half-century in four matches. While Australia have won three out of those four games, including an impressive 2-0 series win in New Zealand, Smith's form as an opener remains worrisome.
Speaking to Fox Cricket about Smith's opening conundrum in Tests, Khawaja preferred the ace batter to be Australia's No. 4.
"I’m not sure what the top six is going to be this summer. I’ve always loved Steve Smith batting at No. 4, I haven’t shied away from that. I love seeing him come in at No. 4 … you get two wickets, and who do you get walking in? The best batsman in the world. When you put him up to open, I feel like you’re kind of giving them a chance to get at him early," the opener said.
Smith is Australia's fourth leading run-scorer in Tests with 9,685 runs at an incredible average of 56.97 in 109 games.
While he has struggled as a Test opener this year, the move has helped Australia play all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green in the playing XI.
"I’ll bat wherever they want me to" - Steve Smith
![It has been far from smooth sailing for Smith at the top of the order in Tests [Credit: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/08/29f9d-17237034356950-1920.jpg?w=500)
When asked about his preferred spot in Australia's batting order in Tests, Steve Smith said he would bat wherever the team management wants him to.
The 35-year-old has batted at No. 4 in 67 out of his 109 Tests, scoring almost 6,000 runs at an average of 61.50 with 19 centuries.
"It’s a little bit of a quicker turnaround when you only have ten minutes, running off the field and you have to get back out there quickly. Outside of that, I don’t think there’s much change. I’ll bat wherever they want me to. I’m not that fussed. I’m pretty easy, whatever spot they want me to bat. I’m comfortable batting wherever," Smith told Fox Cricket.
"We’ll see what that looks like, I suppose, whether they want me to continue (opening the batting) or go back to three or four. We’ll wait and see. I’m pretty easy batting anywhere. We’ll just see what stacks up and what the brain trust wants. I like to stand up in the big series and do well and help the team. Hopefully there’s much of the same this summer," he added.
Australia's next Test assignment is the blockbuster five-match home series against India, starting November 22.