Steven Smith Returns to Middle Order for Border Gavaskar Trophy Against India
Australia’s National Selector, George Bailey, has announced that Steven Smith will return to his position in the middle order for the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy against India. This decision ends Smith’s brief role as an opener, which he took on after David Warner’s retirement. Smith struggled in this position, scoring only 171 runs at an average of 28.50, leading to discussions about his role in the team.
Smith’s return to the middle order comes after Cameron Green’s injury and Smith’s own request to move back. Bailey confirmed that discussions with Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald led to this decision. With Smith moving down, Australia now needs to find a new opener and a player for the No. 4 spot before the series begins in Perth on November 22.
Bailey also addressed the need for a player in the top six who can bowl, especially with concerns about Mitchell Marsh’s bowling capabilities. He noted that Australia has previously played without an all-rounder and is preparing Marsh to bowl some overs.
Before the series, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Sam Konstas will play for Australia A against India A. Bancroft aims to return to the Test team, while Konstas, who recently achieved twin centuries in the Sheffield Shield, is also in contention. Bailey emphasized not putting pressure on Konstas, who is early in his first-class career.
Doubts Revealed
Steven Smith -: Steven Smith is a famous Australian cricketer known for his excellent batting skills. He has played for the Australian national team for many years.
Middle Order -: In cricket, the middle order refers to the group of batsmen who bat after the top order. They usually come in to bat after the first few batsmen are out.
Border Gavaskar Trophy -: The Border Gavaskar Trophy is a cricket series played between India and Australia. It is named after two famous cricketers, Allan Border from Australia and Sunil Gavaskar from India.
Cameron Green -: Cameron Green is an Australian cricketer who plays as an all-rounder, meaning he can both bat and bowl. He is considered a promising young talent.
George Bailey -: George Bailey is a former Australian cricketer who is now involved in selecting players for the Australian cricket team. He helps decide which players will play in matches.
Marcus Harris -: Marcus Harris is an Australian cricketer who plays as a batsman. He is one of the players being considered to fill the opening spot in the team.
Cameron Bancroft -: Cameron Bancroft is another Australian cricketer who plays as a batsman. He is also being considered for the opening spot in the team.
Sam Konstas -: Sam Konstas is a cricketer who has recently performed well in the Sheffield Shield, a domestic cricket competition in Australia. He is being considered for a spot in the team.
Sheffield Shield -: The Sheffield Shield is a domestic cricket competition in Australia. It is one of the main tournaments where Australian cricketers play to show their skills and get selected for the national team.
