Aaron Finch urges Aussie cricket selectors to end Steve Smith opening experiment
Finch wants to see Smith move down the order back to No.4.
Aaron Finch has urged Australian selectors to put an immediate end to the Steve Smith opening experiment, declaring it is time for the national side to just pick the best side available. Smith volunteered to take David Warner's place at the top of the order when the veteran opener called time on his Test cricket career last summer but didn't have much success.
Smith only made one decent score against the West Indies at the Gabba but largely failed to make any significant runs. He made just 171 runs in eight innings at the top of the order against the West Indies and New Zealand, with only one half-century to his name. Smith averaged 28.25 as an opener - well below his career average of 56.97. And in the New Zealand series alone he averaged just 12.75 across four innings.
Smith's push up the order allowed Cameron Green to return to the side without Mitch Marsh needing to be dropped. And while the makeshift opener struggled for runs, Green went on to score a dominant 174 not out against New Zealand and in the next match Marsh put on 80 in a match-winning partnership with Alex Carey, showcasing why they both deserve a spot in the side.
But regardless of that, Australian batsmen Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have both publicly declared they'd prefer to see Smith batting at No.4. And Finch agrees, stating the right spot for Smith is at second drop. “I was a little bit surprised at the time (with Smith opening). Just such a drastic change for such a great player, I think,” Finch told 7News.
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"(Smith opening) did make a bit of sense when you’re trying to find the best spot for Cameron Green in the side when everybody’s been quite open about the fact that they want to push him in the side no matter what it takes. I can see where the move came from, Steve putting his hand up and saying ‘You know what, maybe it is time for a new challenge’ and he proved himself a good opener, no doubt about that. But, I mean, when you’ve averaged near on 60 over your career, I think it’s time to head back in that direction, in my opinion."
Aaron Finch believes Travis Head should open for the Test side
Finch believes there are a couple of options on who could open but in his mind, the best choice is to move Travis Head to open for the Test team, as he already does for the white-ball sides. "He’s aggressive, he takes it on," Finch said.
“All around the world he’s probably proved himself to be an outstanding wicketkeeper and then the runs are really important, especially against a team like India."
If selectors decide Smith is better at No.4 and opt to end the opener experiment, it still could ultimately cost someone their place in the side. Alternatively to Head, Green could be promoted to open, but if selectors want a traditional opener like Cameron Bancroft of Matthew Renshaw, Green could be dropped from the side altogether.
