Veteran Australian batter Steve Smith has said that he willingly took up the opener’s role in Tests after David Warner’s retirement because he doesn’t like waiting for his chance to bat. However, Smith added that his “keenness to open” was clear to the selectors also. However, Smith hasn’t opened in Test cricket but he has a brilliant average of 67.08 at No. 3, his best for any position he has batted so far.

“There’s been conversations happening for a little while, obviously, knowing that Davey (Warner) was going to finish up after Sydney,” Steve Smith said on Fox. “I know they were keen to get Cameron Green back into the fold as well. And yeah, for me, it was just a conversation saying, look, I’m keen to go at the top. If you’re thinking about Greeny up the top, he hasn’t done it much or he hasn’t done it at all. He bats No.4 in Shield cricket. And, you know, since I guess Marnus has been playing at No.3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time and I don’t really like waiting to bat.”

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“So I thought why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your six best batters so yeah, hopefully it works out. I am [excited],” he further added.

However, Steve Smith also said that he likes facing the new ball, giving the example of the 2019 Ashes where he mostly walked out to bat inside the first 10 overs. Meanwhile, David Warner backed Steve Smith to open in Tests.

“It’s just another challenge for Smudge. I’m looking forward to seeing how he goes, but I know he’s going to go very well. He’ll adapt to any situation. You know he’s a world class player. He’s the best. I probably think he’s bored at No.4 and he wants to have a hit and not wait. So I’m looking forward to seeing it. I wish him all the very best and I’m not going to miss those last few minutes of the day’s play,” he concluded.