Steve Smith had the perfect response to critics who declared he shouldn’t be opening for Australia in Tests.
After a lean first three innings as David Warner’s replacement up top with Usman Khawaja, the 34-year-old almost hauled Australia over the line to avoid the monumental eight-run upset by West Indies at the Gabba.
Smith, who has scored 27 of his 32 Test centuries at No.3 or No.4, insists he didn’t overthink his approach to opening.
After scores of 12, 11 not out and six, the star batter belted an unbeaten 91 in Australia’s second innings on Sunday and feels “comfortable” as an opener.
“There was a lot of commentary around I’d failed in two or three innings – I had a not out and two low scores,” Smith said at the MCG on Wednesday.
“Now I’m averaging 60 as an opener.
“It was just another position; I’ve battled against the new ball numerous times, coming in early.
“I’ve enjoyed the first couple of weeks of it … if they see fit to move me back down, I’ll do whatever the team needs.”
Smith, who became the first Australian to carry his bat since Warner in 2011, was the only player to handle the Windies’ newest pace sensation Shamar Joseph.
The 24-year-old tore through Australia with 7-68 to spearhead the tourists to an extraordinary first Test victory down under since 1997.
Adding to the legend, Joseph, in his second Test, bowled in the second innings with a painful toe injury that has forced him to head home to the Caribbean and miss the ILT20 with Warner’s Dubai Capitals.
“I overheard a conversation, I think we were seven down just before lunch and I overheard him speaking to (Windies captain) Kraigg (Brathwaite) … he’s (Joseph) like, ‘I’m bowling to the end, man’,” Smith said.
“He’s a rare talent and I think it’s great for cricket what he was able to do and see the West Indies competing like they did.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“He just kept coming in, and actually probably bowled faster at the end rather than the start.”
Smith also defended his decision to give No.11 Josh Hazlewood two balls to face Joseph in what ended up being the last over of the match.
Hazlewood was Joseph’s final victim, sparking wild and joyful West Indies celebrations as they completed arguably the biggest upset in Test history.
“I’ve thought about it, whether we could do different things,” Smith admitted. “Maybe I could have taken five balls against Shamar; he was on fire obviously.
“But then I run the risk of not getting a run off the last ball and ‘Hoff’ (Hazlewood) having to take all six from Alzarri (Joseph).”
Smith will captain Australia’s ODI team in Pat Cummins’ absence when they open a three-match series at the MCG on Friday.
It will be Australia’s first 50-over match since famously winning the World Cup by stunning hosts India in last year’s final.
matth
Roar Guru
So he averaged 60 across his four innings. So by your metric if he produces the same score in NZ then you’ll be cool? PS he succeeded twice. On of his small scores was a not out.
jammel
Roar Rookie
So Jeff do you also recharacterise Uzzie's "opening" performances in light of the first 15-20 overs standard? Same for DaveyW? I personally like my openers to bat the the 30th/50th/70th/100th over mark. They're still openers. If let's say Smith against India scores 250 red next summer opening. I'll still classify that as an innings where he opened.
jammel
Roar Rookie
so you want openers now to just occupy the crease? Not a problem with that, but just thought I'd clarify.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He's a 3 format gun. He has to bowl and doesn't get enough. Maybe, in that last test, Paddy has finally become aware of what Green offers with the ball too. With the bat, that 42 re-establishing the innings with Smith, has been greatly under-valued.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
Yeah, like he is the first opener in history to have a form slump lol All I was doing was agreeing with Jeff’s comment above.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
How does his average dictate whether he saw the new ball off or not? An opener could average less than Warner and have still spent far more time at the crease seeing the new ball off. And is that all an opener is? Was Warner’s only job to see off the new ball? Because if it was he dramatically failed in England.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
Bring up any stat you want, based on his average he saw off the new ball, it’s the only point I’m making
13th Man
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right - he needs to play consistently at some level for this to happen. Should be playing Shield instead of the ODI series vs Windies. He will play two tests vs NZ then when is his next red ball game? Needs to go play county cricket and boost his confidence playing long format cricket instead of playing meaningless white ball games.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
What did he average outside Australia? That average is significantly boosted by 2 innings. His form outside of that was dreadful and he barely made it past the first hour in the whole series in the Ashes in 2019 and didn’t fare a whole lot better in 2023.
Rubbish Surf 69
Roar Rookie
He averaged 29 for the past few years as all the haters out the so eloquently copied and pasted on here so that would usually be getting at least through the first hour
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Greeny will get those runs...and more. He's on his way to being one of our best ever. He has the Allan Border grit and the Greg Chappell class.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You win the week so far...and probably the year so far. :happy:
jamesb
Roar Guru
Wtf..
13th Man
Roar Rookie
He barely ever got through the new ball in the last 3 years. Especially not away from home.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Yes but in the process he's robbing us of having our best number 4 in history. It's not worth sacrificing all the runs he can make at 4, just so he can 'prove a point'.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Mate, you've had 4 innings opening the batting and succeeded once - average 50 over the 4 innings against NZ and maybe I'll change my mind.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
4 innings into a change like this is not the time to decide whether Smith has successfully transitioned to opener. In his eyes, he has, which is a positive and certainly that last innings was a good one. Lets see how he goes over a few more Tests. Hopefully he can do the job well.
Tony
Roar Guru
Gets my vote
Tony
Roar Guru
:laughing: :laughing:
Dodgy brothers
Roar Rookie
Because it would be really weird for him to turn up to a press conference as the captain of the ODI team and just hold his bat up to the microphone everytime he's asked a question.