Steve Smith confirmed as Australia’s new Test opener

Australia’s veteran batter Steve Smith has been confirmed as the team’s new Test opener, the chairman of selectors George Bailey confirmed on Tuesday. Smith will take the opening slot with Usman Khawaja in the first Test match against the West Indies after David Warner’s retirement.

Interestingly, Smith started his Test career while batting at number eight as he played primarily as a spinner. However, with time, Smith became one of the best modern-day Test batters in the world with his consistent performances in all conditions.

The 34-year-old has scored 9514 runs in 105 Test matches at an impressive average of 58.01 and he will look to deliver while opening the innings. Smith has also opened the innings for Australia in the T20I format.

Bailey said that Smith is excited to take up the new role in his Test career.

“Steve’s obviously motivated and energized and keen to do it,” Bailey said. “There were plenty within the team who were pretty keen to go on record and say that they weren’t keen to do it. So it was refreshing that Steve had come forward and said he wanted it and it was something that we’d been chatting about in the background as a selection panel with the coaches as well.

“It’s selfless that someone who’s had such success in one position or a couple of positions in the middle order that he’s open and willing and hungry to go and have a crack at something new and something different, which provides that opportunity to slot Cam into a position where he’s had so much success at first-class level and we think ultimately, is a great spot for him to be in the Test team.”

Selectors have backed Matt Renshaw in the 13-man squad whereas Scott Boland also returns to the team.

“I think ultimately you can mount statistically some strong cases for a number of players,” Bailey noted. “As it currently stands, the panel sees Matt Renshaw is our next best batter. We’ve gone back 18 months or so and I think if you take into account all first-class cricket I think across that time, those guys have played Shield cricket, some county cricket, some Australia A cricket, and PM’s XI games. Matthew’s played a couple of Tests in Australia and in India across that period and his numbers stack up as well as anyone’s across that time.”

Australia Squad for first Test- Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.