Usman Khawaja Wants Steve Smith Back at No. 4 in Test Cricket
Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has shared his thoughts on Steve Smith’s batting position in the Test team. After David Warner retired, Smith was moved to the top of the order, but this change has not been well-received by everyone.
Smith’s performance as an opener has been inconsistent, which is a concern ahead of the important Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. The new batting lineup allows Australia to field their six best batters, with Cameron Green taking Smith’s old spot at No. 4. Despite Smith’s flexibility, Khawaja believes Smith should return to the No. 4 position.
Khawaja said, “He’ll just probably never say it. So I’ll say it for him. Opening is a very important spot … (but) I still think we have the best Test player of my era in the side, in Steve Smith, and his best spot has been number four. I feel like that’s his best spot. I feel like the best balance for our team is (Marnus) Labuschagne three, Smith four.”
Since Warner’s retirement, Australia’s scores have dropped, surpassing 300 runs only once in eight innings. Khawaja added, “For me, the number one consideration is ‘what’s best for the team?’. What order scores us the most runs? And if you look at how many runs we scored with Davey Warner in the team and Smudge batting at four, we scored a lot of runs. With Smudge opening, we’ve still won games, but I don’t think we’ve scored as many runs as we could’ve.”
Smith’s individual performance as an opener has also been underwhelming, with just one fifty in eight innings and an average of 28.50, compared to his impressive average of 61.51 at No. 4.
The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will start on November 22 in Perth. The second Test will be from December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval, featuring a day-night format. The third Test will be at The Gabba in Brisbane from December 14 to 18. The Boxing Day Test will be at Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26 to 30. The final Test will be at Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, promising an exciting conclusion to the series.
Doubts Revealed
Usman Khawaja -: Usman Khawaja is an Australian cricketer who plays for the Australian national team. He is known for his skills as a batsman.
Steve Smith -: Steve Smith is another famous Australian cricketer. He is considered one of the best batsmen in the world.
No. 4 -: In cricket, the No. 4 position refers to the fourth player to bat in the lineup. This position is important because it often requires a strong and reliable batsman.
Test Cricket -: Test cricket is the longest form of the sport, where matches can last up to five days. It is considered the most challenging and prestigious format.
David Warner -: David Warner is an Australian cricketer who has been a key player for the team. He is known for his aggressive batting style.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy -: The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is a series of Test cricket matches played between Australia and India. It is named after two famous cricketers, Allan Border from Australia and Sunil Gavaskar from India.
November 22 to January 7 -: These dates refer to the period during which the Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches will be played. It spans over a month and a half.
Australian cities -: The matches will be held in different cities across Australia, which is a country and continent located in the Southern Hemisphere.
