Steve Smith will return to his favoured No 4 position after a short stint as an opener in the upcoming Test series against India, Australia’s national selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday.
Following David Warner’s retirement from Tests after the Pakistan series during the last home summer, Smith opened the batting for Australia in series against West Indies and New Zealand.
Although he made an unbeaten 91 in only his second Test in the new role, the 35-year-old didn’t fare well in the series against New Zealand, collecting a total of 51 runs in four innings.
Bailey confirmed that captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald have decided to bring back Smith to his preferred slot at No 4, where he has scored 5,966 runs at an average of 61 with 19 centuries and 26 fifties.
“Pat (Cummins), Andrew (McDonald)and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green),” Bailey was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
The opportunity to revert back to his old position arose after all-rounder Cameron Green, who had filled Smith’s role at No 4, opted to undergo a lower back surgery which will keep him out for six months.
