Former captain Michael Clarke has backed Steve Smith to open the innings for Australia in Test cricket. The retirement of David Warner has put Australia in a tricky situation to find a Test opener. Warner held the crucial spot for about a decade and performed consistently well for the Australian team.
They have several options to try as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja, – Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and even Steve Smith among the top candidates. Meanwhile, Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft who have opened for Australia in the past will also have the opportunity to get the place back in the Australian team.
Clarke made a bold claim that if Smith wants to open the innings and the management gives him the opportunity then there will be no stopping him from becoming the best Test opener within 12 months.
“If he wants to open the batting and they give him the chance, he will be the number one Test opener within 12 months. He [Smith] is that good a player. If he can bat at 3, he can bat anywhere. Technically he is good enough, he lets the ball go well, and he has great hand-eye coordination. Yes, he might knick the occasional one or might get lbw but tell me something that doesn’t,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket Podcast.
Clarke lauded Smith’s mindset and said that if he gets to open the innings then he might break Brian Lara’s record for highest Test score – 400.
“It might be the challenge that he is looking for. He doesn’t want to wait. He doesn’t want to wait for a Khawaja or a Warner or a Marnus to make a double hundred, he wants to make a double hundred. If he opens, he will be the best opener within 12 months. Don’t be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara’s 400 record because he’s that good and now he’s got the whole day to bat,” he added.
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins though isn’t a fan of throwing Smith’s name into the mix who he reckons has been a good job in the middle order.
“I’m pretty happy with (Smith’s) output at No. 4,” Cummins said after Australia’s win over Pakistan in Sydney on Saturday. “Obviously Marnus, Smudge [Smith], Trav and Marsh have been pretty impressive at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. So first instinct isn’t probably to disrupt that,” he added.
Comments
0 comment