After a disappointing T20 series against New Zealand, Australian cricket star Steve Smith, known for his fantastic performances in Test cricket, is facing uncertainty about his role in the team. Despite expressing confidence in his abilities, Smith’s recent struggle as an opener in the T20 series has raised questions about his position in the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.
While Smith remains optimistic about his chances in the T20 World Cup, his Test performances as an opener have been less than impressive. Shifting from his usual position as number four batsman to an opener, Smith’s scores in the recent Test matches have been inconsistent, with an average of 28.50 in eight innings.
In the latest Test against New Zealand, Smith managed only nine runs in the second innings, leading to discussions about his form and suitability for the opener role. Despite his success in the past, especially as one of the “Fab Four” in Test cricket, Smith seems to be struggling to adapt to the challenges of opening.
With a scorecard of 12, 11*, 6, 91*, 31, 0, 11, 9, Smith’s performance as an opener is raising concerns. Even though he has scored 171 runs in eight innings, his batting average of 28.50 is significantly lower than his overall Test career average of 56.97.
The recent dismissal for just 9 runs in the second innings of the Christchurch Test has intensified the debate about Smith’s ability to perform as an opener. Despite taking the review, Smith could not avoid the lbw decision, adding to the doubts surrounding his form and decision-making.
While Smith has previously succeeded as an opener in T20 matches, his transition to the opening role in Test cricket has not yielded the expected results. Critics point out that Smith’s technique is more suited to middle-order batting, and his struggles with facing the new ball have become apparent.
The question arises whether Smith should continue as an opener or return to his previous position in the middle order. His recent performance in Test matches, especially during the current series against New Zealand, has not lived up to expectations.
Smith’s challenges as an opener have sparked discussions among cricket enthusiasts and experts about his future role. Some suggest that he might consider returning to the middle order, where he has achieved considerable success in the past.
As Smith faces this dilemma, the upcoming Test series will be crucial for him to prove his worth as an opener or potentially rethink his role in the team. The cricket community eagerly awaits to see how Smith responds to these challenges and whether he can make a successful comeback.
In the meantime, the Australian cricket team and fans are closely watching Smith’s performance, hoping for a positive turn in his form and confidence, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.