Usman Khawaja’s plea: Bring back Steve Smith at No. 4 | Cricket News
Australian opener Usman Khawaja opinionated that the side’s talisman Steve Smith should bat at number four where he averages 61.51. Smith has played many gritty and memorable batting innings for the side coming in the middle-order. However, post David Warner’s retirement early in 2024 the 35-year-old volunteered to open the batting.
“I’m not sure what the top six is going to be this summer. I’ve always loved Steve Smith batting at No. 4, I haven’t shied away from that. I know Steve Smith can score runs at one, two, three, four, five, or six, but the man averages 60 at four, so my preference has always been Smudge (Steve Smith) at four,” Khawaja said speaking on Fox Cricket.
“I love seeing him come in at No. 4 … you get two wickets, and who do you get walking in? The best batsman in the world. When you put him up to open, I feel like you’re kind of giving them a chance to get at him early,” Khawaja added. Additionally the opening slot in the four innings against West Indies earlier this year Smith had mixed results. Though he made a crucial 91 in the second innings of Adelaide he struggled in the other three innings having an overall average of 28.50 in the position.
“Some challenging conditions with the new ball, in particular. So I would have liked to score a few more runs,” Smith would add. “That’s the game sometimes but I played pretty well in the second innings at the Gabba where we couldn’t get over the line, unfortunately. It’s just a position to me so it doesn’t really faze me too much,” Smith said in a recent interview with Code Sport.
“I don’t like waiting to bat, so I thought why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top? That way, you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your best six batters,” Smith would give rationale earlier this year on Fox Cricket.
