Australia coach Andrew McDonald stays mum on Steve Smith's batting position for India tests

Steve Smith has one half-century and averages just 28.50 from four Tests as an opener.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald refused to confirm whether Steve Smith will open in the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 series later this year.

The series that starts on November 2022 will feature India and Australia playing five Tests for the first time since the 1991-92 series. The first test will be played at Perth’s Optus Stadium. The second test will be a day-night match at the Adelaide Oval from December 6. The third test will be held from December 14 at Brisbane’s Gabba.

The highly anticipated Boxing Day test will take place from December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the series will end with the fifth test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Not a lot at this stage: Andrew McDonald refuses to reveal Steve Smith’s batting position

Smith had been a rock in Australia’s middle order for over a decade, but after David Warner departed from test cricket at the beginning of the year, he shifted up to an unaccustomed role at the top to partner Usman Khawaja. He’s had underwhelming results as an opener so far.

As an opener, Smith has managed one half-century and averages 28.50 from four tests, with his best of 91* coming against West Indies in Brisbane.

With an important test series coming up against India, Australia are debating whether Smith should continue as an opener or return to his highly successful batting position at No. 4. Coach McDonald didn’t give away anything regarding Smith’s position.

“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? While we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one. There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I’d be lying if I said the conversation wasn’t happening,“ McDonald said on Australian radio station SEN.

“There are conversations around a lot of what-ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come. We’ll unveil everything, and we’ll let (Smith’s coach at domestic level) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we’ll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play (Sheffield) Shield cricket.“

With Australia’s Test skipper Pat Cummins missing the UK tour to take rest, McDonald hinted that any selection for the India series has been put on hold for the time being. But moving Smith back to number four, he explained, would push out Cameron Green, who’s done well in middle-order after returning to the side.

“What am I willing to share? Not a lot at this stage. All I can say is the conversation’s happening. Clearly, Patty Cummins as the captain is a big part of that, he’s rehabbing at the moment, he’s not over here (in Europe).

“We’ve already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we’re thinking for the summer, and that goes right down to depth bowling and what it looks like, all those hypotheticals and what ifs that we always go through. If we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top.

“We’ve seen Cameron Green be really successful at No.4 as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed on at the moment,” McDonald further added.

Australia have lost the last four test series against India, including twice at home.

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