India’s upcoming tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to kick off on November 22 in Perth, and anticipation is mounting among fans and former cricketers alike. One such cricketer, former Australian opener Shane Watson, has sparked an interesting discussion by suggesting that Australia should consider Steve Smith as an opening batsman for the series.
Steve Smith, traditionally a middle-order player, has occasionally opened for Australia, and Watson believes he has the potential to excel in the role. His stint as an opener began after the retirement of David Warner, with the prolific batter stepping up to fill the void at the top of the order.
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In his four Test appearances as an opener, Smith has scored 174 runs at an average of 28.50—modest by his lofty standards. Despite these numbers, Watson sees potential in the move, though he acknowledges that Smith may need to make some technical adjustments to thrive in the role.
“Steve Smith made the call to open, and I think he should stay there,” Shane Watson told ESPNcricinfo. “The easy option for him would be moving back to No. 4, but I would love to see him continue opening because he has the skill to succeed.” Watson believes that Smith’s recent struggles as an opener were due to minor technical flaws in his game. “He got out in ways we’ve rarely seen, but with time to make adjustments, I believe he can be incredibly successful at the top,” he added.
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This upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be crucial for both teams. India is the defending champion, having won the series in Australia in both 2018-19 and 2020-21 by a margin of 2-1. They continued their dominance by winning the 2022-23 series at home by the same margin. Both teams currently sit atop the World Test Championship standings, with India in first place, followed closely by Australia. The series promises to be another intense chapter in their fierce rivalry.
