NEW DELHI: Ahead of the highly anticipated Test series against Australia, India is concerned about Virat Kohli’s poor form, while the hosts are facing their own batting dilemma with Steve Smith.
The 35-year-old will return to the starting lineup at number four for the series opener in Perth after a fruitless time as an opener following David Warner’s retirement. He is eager to dispel the notion that his finest days are over.
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Smith has scored 19 of his 32 hundreds and amassed an incredible average of 61.46 throughout his 109-Test career, which has covered the majority of the batting order.
Australia has embraced Smith’s return to his preferred position, especially Usman Khawaja, the opener and teammate who stated months ago that Smith would be more successful there.
For a batter whose defense seemed almost unbeatable and who was producing Bradman-like numbers a few years ago, it was a backhanded compliment.
Even Smith, who has seldom, if ever, questioned his own ability, knew that his tenure at the top of the order was not going well.
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“Marnus (Labuschagne) and Uzzie (Khawaja), they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them. So that was a big part of it,” said Smith.
Smith has assumed Warner’s reputation as a former batting sensation who has clung too long to his position in a squad in dire need of revitalization, according to his critics.
While youthful all-rounder Cameron Green led the batting with 238 runs, playing primarily at number four, Smith struggled with 51 runs during Australia’s two-Test tour of New Zealand in February and March, solidifying that opinion.
Smith has been under pressure to defend his place in a top six that is mainly decided by Green’s back ailment, which has kept him out of the whole India series.
However, if his slump continues into the India series, the rumors will become more widespread.
Smith has not indicated when he intended to leave the game, in contrast to Warner, who made his retirement plans clear well in advance.
Given his impressive record-which includes a batting average of 65.87 versus India compared to his career average of 56.97-selectors could be hesitant to reject him.
Smith is incredibly valuable while playing at home; Australia has never lost a Test match when he has scored a century.
Smith’s wicket will be highly valued by India, and their bowlers’ ability to restrain him was a major contributor to their spectacular 2-1 series win in the most recent Test trip in 2020-21.
Smith scored 212 of his runs in the drawn Sydney Test, despite finishing second on the batting list with 313 runs, behind Labuschagne (426).
Smith has been dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja eight times apiece, struggling more against India’s spinners than their pacers.
Following the spinner’s announcement last week that he had “the wood” over the batsman, his matchup with Ashwin, India’s top wicket-taker, will be closely observed.
After Ashwin dismissed Smith for a duck in the second Test in Melbourne and for one run in the first Test in Adelaide in 2020, Smith is aiming for a better start in the upcoming series.
“(I need to) just be proactive against him and not let him settle and bowl the way he wants to,” said Smith.
