Steve Smith has thrown up his hand to replace David Warner as Australia’s Test opener, confirming he would interested in the move if asked by selectors.
Smith has become a last-minute candidate for the job at the top of the order, with Warner’s final innings looming against Pakistan on Saturday.
Such a move would potentially allow Cameron Green to return to the side at No.4, in the allrounder’s preferred batting position where he walks out for Western Australia.
Smith has never opened in a Test match, but there is a feeling a late-career move to the top could reinvigorate one of Australia’s greatest ever batsmen.
“I’m actually happy to go up the top,” the 34-year-old told ABC radio after play.
“I am pretty keen if that is what they want to do.
“I’m sure the selectors and ‘Ron’ (coach Andrew McDonad) and Patty (captain Pat Cummins) will have a chat after this game, but I am certainly interested. For sure.”
Teammate Alex Carey also backed the move on Friday, meaning Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Mitch Marsh have all been floated as options.
Alternatively Green could be brought into the team to open against the West Indies in Adelaide on January 17, while Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are the specialist options.
“Steve can bat wherever he wants,” Carey said.
“He’s probably proven in his career, whatever challenge is thrown at him he has found a way to succeed.
“We’ve got some great openers doing a fantastic job. Obviously a few other names are thrown out there.
“‘Smudge’ (Smith) putting his hat in the ring, if he was to get the call-up he would do a great job. He’s faced the new ball a few times.”
Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting cautioned against the move on Friday, not keen on disrupting the current batting order.
“I wouldn’t like to see him move,” he told Channel 7.
“All this talk, all they are trying to do is find a spot in the side for Cameron Green.
“If they are going to do it, it has to be with the least disruption to the batting order as it is.
“Smith and Labuschagne have been magnificent at three and four – they have been the backbone of Australia’s batting for the last three or four years.
“I wouldn’t like to see that disrupted. I think it should be Cameron Bancroft to get that chance.”
Former Aussie opener and coach Justin Langer has also pushed against a makeshift opener, while arguing that a long-term move should be made with series looming against India and England.
“If they see Cameron Green as a long-term solution, then maybe (him),” Langer said.
“But it wouldn’t be my solution.”
NQR
Roar Rookie
It’s a common assumption of the state of NSW that they produce the players of highest quality. It happens in many sports. Isn’t it amazing 06-07 was probably the most dominant Ashes tour?
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I rate Green and want him in the side because he has done absolutely nothing wrong and will be a very good player for the future, but currently there is no spot for him and I wouldn’t go shuffling the order to fit him in. He will replace Smith at 4 in the next couple of years anyway – he’s gotta bide his time for now – but should be playing for WA/Perth – not sitting on the bench for the Aussies. Bancroft has been dominant at domestic level and deserves the opportunity.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Or, alternatively, the boys club will do anything to get Green back into the side without him having to do anything on the field.
Shire
Roar Rookie
The 06-07 Ashes side only had three players from NSW. The Australian side of the mid-70s was also pretty light on NSW players. There's not some enormous conspiracy to keep players from other states out, sometimes the largest state (weirdly) just produces the most players of high quality.
NQR
Roar Rookie
I think they are buying time to find the next Blue bagger they can get in the Top of the order. Has Australia ever fielded a Test team not dominated by the Blue boys? It happens across so many sports it’s laughable.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Green is the perfect Smith replacement- but two new openers need to be unearthed first.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
How? Smith is 35 - it’s simply kicking the can down the road another year instead of getting a new opener in against West Indies and Nz so they are more ready for India.
Damo
Roar Rookie
Wear a blue cap. Everyone is scared about Warner doing a tell all after he retires but I reckon Bancroft could really hurt some legacies with his side of the story too.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Feels like the selectors and the boys club will do anything to keep Bancroft out of the side. Genuinely feel for the guy, what else does he have to do?
Skippy89
Roar Rookie
Green for me.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I reckon every other Test nation, but especially India & England, must be rubbing their hands with glee at the nonsense that's been going on for weeks about the Aussie batting lineup. To them it must rightly seem like everyone's got an opinion, they're happy to spray those opinions around publicly and the selectors have no idea what to do. When you couple that with the names supposedly in the mix, it must seem like this is an Australian batting lineup in crisis. Hopefully common sense will prevail and guys like Ponting are listened to. Get Bancroft to open, everyone else stays where they are and Green waits his turn.
Blink
Roar Rookie
I'm with Ponting. This is our best batting line-up in a long time. We need a long term opener and then another post Khawaja and a number 4 post Smith. So now I think Bancroft, due to his weight of runs which demands a national game reward. That is what selectors have done previously.
Gilberto
Roar Rookie
Seems weird for a player reliant on hand eye coordination losing that as it is. Ponting moved down from 3 to 4 as he aged, so too Kallis.
Jack
Roar Rookie
I dont mind this option. Bancroft and co. are placeholders at best. This way you get Green back in who's better than the lot of them. Maybe Smith will start scoring runs again.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Surely this is short term thinking? Smith turning 35 this year? As noted elsewhere that he isn't even sure how long he wants to continue in tests. And what happens if it doesn't work out? Does he get his no4 spot back at the expense of somebody else?
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I don’t mind unsettling the bsttimg order because it currently isn’t working. But isn’t it amazing the lengths the current players will go to in order to shut out Bancroft given his outrageous assertion that the bowlers knew about the sandpaper incident all those years ago. Nobody likes a rat in the ranks.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
This looks like a pretty compelling argument that it's harder to get out of the team than into it. These guys are borderline delusional.
RobPeters
Roar Rookie
Isn’t the whole point to find a long term opener? How is this helpful? Even Smith admits he doesn’t know how long he’ll be around. At this point, since every other name has been thrown around, lets bring back the other Steve Smith. At least he was an opener and besides he might do better against this WI team than he did on the WI tour in 1984, even as a 62 year old.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Cartel will do anything to keep Bancroft out, wrecked a career.
ant
Roar Rookie
Extremely unfortunate for Bancroft and Renshaw, but I feel like this is the best way to go. It's perfect for Green who was a prodigy batting at 4 for WA. It could also be good for Smith, who's been underperforming at 4 recently. Again, unlucky for Bancroft + Renshaw, but maybe when Khawaja retires...?