Ricky Ponting backs Steve Smith to make big runs in Champions Trophy

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting has backed Steve Smith to get the big runs in the Champions Trophy. Ponting wants Australia to promote Steve Smith in the batting order and back him at the top of the order. While Travis Head is expected to open the innings for Australia, the second opener could be either Matt Short or Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Smith will lead Australia in the Champions Trophy in the absence of Pat Cummins and it would be interesting to note his batting position. The veteran has all the experience under his belt and he has scored 5703 runs in 167 ODI matches at an average of 43.2.

“Do they think about opening the batting with Steve Smith, which is something that they could actually think about as well, I think, because of how well he’s done in white ball cricket when he has opened the batting,” Ponting said on the ICC Review.

“(Smith) could be someone that could be an anchor through this Champions Trophy at the top of the order. And you know that with the form that he’s in, he’s going to make big runs,” he added.

On the other hand, Ponting reckons Jake Fraser-McGurk is making it difficult it for himself to get a place in the playing XI. The youngster has scored 98 runs in seven ODIs at an average of 14.

“Yeah, he’s making it harder and harder (for selectors to stick with Fraser-McGurk). He’s not had the greatest of summers. I mean, there’s just so much talent there. There’s so much ability and skill and talent that we haven’t sort of seen consistently enough just yet. And that’s one of the big calls (selectors) are going to have to make now as well,” Ponting said.

Australia will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against arch-rivals England at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Saturday.