India vs Australia: Shane Watson Confident of Steve Smith’s Success at No. 4 in Upcoming BGT Season
Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes Steve Smith is poised for a stellar summer, regardless of his batting position. Smith, who experimented as an opener during Australia's 1-1 series draw against the West Indies, is set to return to his familiar No. 4 spot in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, starting Friday.
Smith’s promotion to the opening role sparked considerable debate, especially with David Warner’s retirement leaving a void at the top of the order. However, the Australian selectors are now going for Nathan McSweeney as Warner’s replacement, ensuring Smith reclaims his all-time favorite position at No. 4. This decision aligns with Smith’s extraordinary record in the slot, where he averages 61.50 with 19 centuries and 26 fifties.
Speaking on a cricket Podcast, Watson shared insights on Smith’s performance as an opener, highlighting areas where the experiment fell short. Watson said,
Steve wanted to open. He was super keen to take up a new challenge. But one thing with that opportunity he had was he wasn’t actually batting at his best at that time. So he got an opportunity to open and Steve Smith at his very best would have made the most out of it because he just loves scoring runs whether it is opening or at No 4. You could see it a few times he got out when he was opening – his game and his technique was a little bit off.
Watson emphasized that Smith’s adaptability and consistency make him Australia’s backbone in the batting lineup. With a challenging five-match series against India on the horizon, Australia will look to Smith to anchor the middle order and guide the team through critical phases.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy looms, all eyes will be on Smith to deliver another masterclass, proving once again why he is one of the modern greats of the game.
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