Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has expressed his preference for Steve Smith to bat at No. 4 instead of opening the batting for the Australian Test team. Smith has been opening the batting for Australia since the retirement of David Warner in early 2024. However, his performance as an opener has been less than impressive, with only 171 runs at an average of 28.50 in four matches.
Khawaja, speaking to Fox Cricket, stated that he has always believed that Smith is best suited to bat at No. 4. He emphasized the advantage of having the best batsman in the world walk in at that position, especially after the team loses a couple of early wickets. Khawaja feels that by moving Smith down the order, the team can protect him from early pressure and allow him to play his natural game.
Despite his struggles as an opener this year, Smith remains one of Australia’s leading run-scorers in Tests, with almost 10,000 runs at an outstanding average of 56.97. The decision to have him open the batting was made to accommodate all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green in the playing XI.
In response to the debate about his batting position, Smith mentioned that he is willing to bat wherever the team management wants him to. He has had immense success batting at No. 4 in the past, scoring close to 6,000 runs at an average of 61.50 with 19 centuries. Smith acknowledged the quick turnaround when opening the batting but stated that he is comfortable batting anywhere in the order.
Australia’s next Test series is against India, starting on November 22. It will be interesting to see where Smith bats in the upcoming series and how he performs in his preferred position. His flexibility and willingness to adapt to different roles in the team showcase his commitment to helping Australia succeed in Test cricket.
