New Australian Test opener Steve Smith has expressed his excitement over moving up the order ahead of Wednesday’s first Test against the West Indies.
Smith will replace the retired David Warner at the top for the Aussies.
Smith opened the batting for the Sydney Sixers in their BBL win against the Sydney Thunder, but failed to fire, dismissed for a golden duck.
Speaking to Fox Cricket before the game, Smith said the move to parachute up the order has been in the pipeline for some time.
“I mean, there’s been conversations happening for a little while,” Smith said on Fox Cricket.
“Obviously, knowing that Davey was gonna finish up in Sydney and I know they were keen to get Cameron Green back into the fold as well.
“For me, it was a conversation saying, ‘I’m keen to go up to the top. If you were thinking about Greeny up the top, he hasn’t done it at all’. (Green) bats four in Shield cricket.”
Before the start of the Pakistan series, Cam Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw were the three names in contention for Warner’s spot.
However in the last couple of weeks, Smith’s name started to be tossed up as a potential option.
Ultimately, George Bailey and the Australian selectors decided to give Smith a chance with Usman Khawaja at the top with Green back into the side at number four in the order.
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In somewhat of a surprise, Bancroft and Harris were omitted completely from the squad for the West Indies series while Renshaw was picked as a reserve option.
Smith, who averaged just over 38 in five innings against Pakistan, says the move allows the Aussies to play their “best six batters”.
“Since Marnus has been back playing at No.3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time,” Smith said.
“I don’t like waiting to bat, so I thought why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top? That way, you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your best six batters.
“I am (excited). I like facing the newer ball. If you look back to the 2019 Ashes, I was in pretty early there most of the time where I was facing the new ball.
“I batted No.3 from a number of years as well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball.
“So it’s nothing new or foreign to me. I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”
