Australian cricket's superstar David Warner has endorsed 'best Test bater' Steve Smith as a potential new opener for the Australian Test team. This suggestion comes amidst Australia's deliberation on selecting a partner for established opener Usman Khawaja for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.
Warner, who recently marked his exit from Test cricket with his final match against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground, believes Smith possesses the qualities needed to excel in the opening role. He highlighted Smith's adaptability to various conditions and challenges, underscoring his capability to effectively handle the responsibilities of an opener.
"I think (Smith) would go well, he is the best Test batsman in the world, he just finds a way. It's probably the challenge of it which I think he probably wants to get into," Warner said on the Prairie Club Fire podcast.
"He's ticked the box off where he is now ... he probably just wants to see if he can go out and open. He'll adapt to any situation ... he'll do very, very well," he added.
In the recent three-match series against Pakistan, Smith's performance was modest by his own high standards. Over six innings, he accumulated 194 runs, averaging 38.80 with a strike-rate of 40, and his highest score in the series was 50. Despite these figures, Warner's confidence in Smith stems from his proven track record and versatility as a batsman.
The Australian team is also considering other players such as Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft to join Khawaja at the top of the order. The decision on who will open alongside Khawaja is crucial as Australia prepares for the Test series against the West Indies, set to begin on January 17 at the Adelaide Oval.
Warner's backing of Smith for the opener's role reflects the team's strategy to optimize their batting lineup. As Australia looks forward to the series, the choice of opener will be pivotal in setting the tone for their performance against the West Indies.
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