Steve Smith reveals two teammates hated him as opener during short stint, says 'They wanted me batting behind them'

Steve Smith did not score a century during his short stint as opener in red-ball cricket. He feels it is a small sample size to judge him.

Sports Tak

• Tue • 22 Oct 2024

Steve Smith

Highlights:

Steve Smith has just one fifty as an opener from four Tests.

Smith said that it was fun to bat as an opener.

Australia's star batter Steve Smith will be returning to his original batting position no.4 in Test cricket in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Smith gave up the opening spot after Cameron Green got sidelined due to back injury. Ahead of the five-Test series at home against India starting next month, Smith revealed that Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne hated him during his short stint as an opener.

"Obviously, there's a spot there now with Greeny out," Smith was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz on the sidelines of Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and Victoria. "Conversations we had after the New Zealand series, particularly with Marnus and Uzzie, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me batting behind them. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously, I've got a decent record at four.

"It was good fun trying something new, batting up top. I still feel like I could do a job there for sure. It was a pretty small sample size. But I've done pretty well at four for a number of years now, and I feel like it's probably where I can have my best input for this team at the moment."

Smith’s record as opener in Tests

Smith played four Tests as an opener and scored 171 runs at an average of 28.50 including an unbeaten 91 against West Indies.

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Cummins, Donald asked Smith about his preference

Smith also clarified that he did not request the captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald to return to his old spot.

"I got asked where I'd prefer to bat and I said four. I also said I'm happy batting wherever, I'm not really too fussed," the 35-year-old said.

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"I got asked (by Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald) where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I've requested to bat at four. That wasn't the case. I said I'm happy to bat wherever you'd like me to bat, but yeah, four would be my ideal position," he added.

Smith has scored the bulk of his runs at no.4. He has 5,966 runs from 111 innings at an average of 61.50 including 19 centuries and 26 fifties.