Steve Smith will take the field as Test opener for the first time in the Test match starting January 17 in Adelaide. In this Test match against the West Indies on Sunday, Steve Smith was seen taking batting practice in front of the new ball in the nets. After the net session, he shared where the story began that made him the Test opener and how he reached this point. He said he first expressed the idea during the Ashes but no one took his words seriously until the Sydney Test against Pakistan in January this year.
Steve Smith said: “I've been pushing for this continuously over the last few weeks. “Even during the Ashes before the Perth Test (against Pakistan) I had spoken about it. During the England tour I had just said that I was going to play in the top flight and that I would like to play there. In Perth I said David Warner was leaving and I'm keen to take his place. I don't think he took me seriously until the Sydney Test. I kept saying that I was telling the truth. I can't wait to open up and face the new ball. Until then he kept saying it's fine, we'll take it as advice and see what works right.
Ultimately, Steve Smith's wish came true and the team management considered him the best option to replace David Warner. Now he will open with Usman Khawaja instead of the fourth order. However, this is also a risk for Smith. When asked where he would like to be in the batting order if he fails at the top and Cameron Green does well at No. 4? Smith made it clear that he wasn't thinking about such negative things at the moment.
Smith said, “I don't like to think about things like that.” I don't want to entertain negative thoughts. Even if this happens, it is possible that a specialist opener will take my place and I will come back up the batting order again.