Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey
Australia legend Matthew Hayden believes moving Steve Smith to opener is “crazy.” He said Smith should bat where he has scored the bulk of his Test runs at number for Australia’s benefit in a series as big as the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn’t like changing,” Hayden said at the CEAT cricket rating awards in Mumbai, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position. For a few reasons, I think that’s crazy. Firstly, why? Such a gun in that position, such a coveted player,” he said.
Smith has found the going difficult in his time as Test opener. In eight innings, he has scored 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with the highlight his 91* against West Indies at the Gabba.
Matthew Hayden calls for Steve Smith to move back to number four
“The rationale that George Bailey [national selector] gave was correct in so far as that he was choosing his best top six batsmen,” Hayden said. “Now, you can’t argue with Steven Smith, he is averaging 65 [57] in Test-match cricket…. 32 Test-match hundreds.”
5,966 of Smith’s 9,685 Test runs have come at number four at an average of 61.50. Given India’s strength in bowling, Australia may be tempted to move Smith back to his previous position.
“The role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different,” said Hayden. “And it didn’t take long to discover that when you get into challenging conditions, like they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand, that opening the batting is very difficult.”
If Australia shift Smith down the order, they will have to find a new opener to partner Usman Khawaja. Cameron Green, who was originally touted as David Warner’s first replacement, could be the option. But, Hayden believes performers in Sheffield Shield cricket should be rewarded more.
“[Moving Smith to opener] also is not a great nod to the first-class set-up, which is very much in the Australian culture, been driving great results towards key roles, be that any one of the roles – wicketkeeping, batting, spinners, fast bowlers, opening batters,” Hayden said.
“So the [batting positions of] one, two and three is a category which needs to be protected in my opinion. It sets up play.”
However, Hayden believes the opener role is vulnerable, no matter who they pick there given the quality of the bowling to be on show in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
“We have guys like [Cameron] Bancroft that are always in the pipeline, Matt Renshaw is in the pipeline,” said Hayden.
“Bancroft, when you look at his form in England, has been excellent, but that’s domestic cricket. It’s not the Border-Gavaskar-type cricket so a bit of a few things to really prove from that engine room in Australian cricket, which has been challenged right now with David’s absence.”
Australia are expected to make the call on who opens in the five-match series against India after their white-ball tour of the UK in September. Smith himself said “I’m happy anywhere and I’ll bat wherever for the team.” According to reports, both captain Pat Cummins and selector Bailey have hinted Australia will start with Smith as opener and Green at four following the latter’s brilliant tour of New Zealand.
The Border Gavaskar Trophy is crucial to Australia’s World Test Championship Final hopes. A series win will enable them to take a big step towards a shot at retaining the title they won in 2023.
