Australia coach Andrew McDonald announces who will open the batting in Tests against Team India 8 months before the series

Since the time Steve Smith began opening the batting for Australia in Test cricket, the modern master's runs have significantly dried up. Smith was promoted to open the innings for Australia after David Warner announced his retirement from red-ball cricket. Smith started as a full-time opener in the Test series against the West Indies, and from his lofty standards, he struggled to make any impact. Smith did play a 91-run knock at the Gabba against the Windies but it came in a losing cause.

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In the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand, Smith endured a horrendous run with the bat. In four innings, Smith could only score 51 runs against the Blackcaps in challenging conditions.

Australia coach Andre McDonald not worried about Smith

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald is not sweating over Smith's performance as an opener in Tests. McDonald is confident in the Australia batter's ability to succeed in the openers' slot while he highlighted that adjusting to a new role takes time even for the best of cricketers.

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"I think he'll be able to work through that. It's a new challenge for him, a new position. If you bring in a new opener and you gave them four test matches, and then said, 'okay, we're going to shift that after four Test matches', would you think that's fair or unfair? I think it's reasonably unfair," McDonald told reporters.

McDonald confirms Smith will continue to open

Furthermore, the Australian coach also confirmed that the team will stick with Smith as an opener and during the high-profile series against India which is scheduled to be played later in the year, the Aussie run machine will continue to lead the charge with the bat from the opener's position.

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"There will be a debate as to what his best position is ... but he's up for the challenge, and I think any time that Steve Smith fails, he sees it as a greater challenge," said McDonald.

"So walking away here with 51 runs under his belt in tough conditions, that will no doubt drive him for the next challenge and that next challenge is India. They await, and I think it will be an internal motivator for him," he added. 

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