With the Border Gavaskar Trophy approaching soon, all eyes will be on Australia and India as they plan their strategies and select the players’ positions. One of Australia’s major issues would be with the position of star-batter Steve Smith, which has been recently resolved after he returned to the number four spot. While he was seen as a replacement for David Warner, it did not last long as the veteran will continue in his usual role. Smith revealed that he voluntarily returned to his position after revealing that the current openers did not approve of his new role.
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Steve Smith Reveals Marnus Labuschagne & Usman Khawaja Hated Him When He Took Up A New Role
Steve Smith recently revealed that Australia’s opening batters, Marnus Labuschagne and Usman Khawaja, hated him when he used to open in Test Cricket. Smith cited that he provided “security” to the team by being in the middle order, and the veteran voluntarily moved back to the number four spot.
“I got asked where I’d prefer to bat, and I said four. I didn’t ask [to move] though. I also said I’m happy batting wherever. I’m not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I’ve requested to bat at four. That wasn’t the case. I said I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat. But, yeah, four would be my ideal position.
“Obviously there’s a spot there now with Greeny [Cameron Green] out. And I think just conversations we had after New Zealand with particularly Marnus and Uzi, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them. They just like the…they call it security behind them, in a way. They were pretty strong on me not batting there. So that was a big part of it. And then, obviously, I’ve got a decent record at four,” Smith said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
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Steve Smith had a forgettable run as an opener after David Warner retired from Test Cricket. The veteran could rake up just 171 with an average of 28.50, prompting criticism over his stay in the new role. But he has now returned to his old spot, and he is expected to be the no. 4 when the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series happens down under.
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