Steve Smith caught in fresh selection furore in T20 against England

Australia's decision to once again prioritise Cameron Green over Steve Smith in the first T20 against England on Sunday night has left cricket fans highly confused.

Smith was dropped for last week's T20 opener against the West Indies, before being recalled for the second match.

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However he was once again left out of Australia's XI for the first match against England at Optus Stadium in Perth.

Despite not being in Australia's squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Green has played in all three matches and opened the batting.

On Sunday night, Aussie captain Aaron Finch once again moved down to No.4 in the batting order so Green could open alongside David Warner.

But with Green not in Australia's World Cup squad, many have been left baffled as to why the Aussies continue to prioritise him in the lead-up matches.

Smith, who is in the World Cup squad, was once again forced to carry the drinks on Sunday night, with Green making just one run with the bat and returning 0-38 with the ball.

There is no question that Green is an absolute star in the making, but fans and pundits have been left highly confused as to why he continues to play in place of members of the World Cup squad.

Some believe that Smith has fallen so far down the pecking order that he won't be in Australia's top XI for the World Cup, with the likes of Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh set to get the nod ahead of him.

Green looms as the likely replacement should any of Australia's all-rounders get injured at the World Cup, which seems to be the reason he is getting priority in the lead-up matches.

Finch has spent almost his entire T20 international career as an opener, but has raised eyebrows by batting either at first drop or No.4 over the past three matches.

Finch made scores of 58 and 15 in the 2-0 series win over the West Indies, and was run out for just 12 while batting at No.4 in Sunday's eight-run loss to England.

The 35-year-old confirmed after the match that he will return to his customary opening spot for the final two games against England in Canberra.

"I'll go back to the top next game, which was always the plan," Finch said.

"It was just about giving Greeny more opportunity at the top and trying things ... in case he had to be called into the (World Cup) squad."

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Green enjoyed remarkable success as an opener during a recent 2-1 series loss in India.

But his return to Australia has been far less fruitful, posting scores of 14, 1 and 1 in his past three innings.

Despite that, Green appears set to be first cab off the rank if Australia needs a late injury replacement for their World Cup title defence - starting later this month.

England captain Jos Buttler said even he was surprised when Finch didn't open at Optus Stadium.

"It's a good question for them," Buttler said.

"He's opened a lot in T20 cricket and done that really well. But he's obviously got a plan."

England posted 6-208 while batting first on Sunday night, with Australia finishing at 9-200 despite the heroics of Warner (73 off 44 balls) at the top of the order.

Australia needed 36 off the final 18 balls, and the equation became a doable 16 off eight as Matthew Wade started taking England to task.

But when Wade holed out in the deep for 21 with 12 runs still needed, it marked the end of Australia's resistance.

with AAP

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