Key Pat Cummins detail comes to light as Steve Smith call made after Cameron Green setback

Australian chief selector George Bailey claimed Steve Smith had already discussed moving back down the order to end his opening experiment with captain Pat Cummins before Cameron Green was ruled out for the series against India. Allrounder Green was delivered brutal news on Monday after it was confirmed he would miss the Australian summer of cricket after injuring his back in the build-up to the series against India.

Green's injury prompted calls for Smith to move back down the order - where he has played the majority of his career - ahead of arguably the game's biggest Test series between the No.1 and No.2 teams. The winner of the series will hold the No.1 ranking. Smith's move to opener after David Warner's retirement didn't go exactly as planned with the right-hander struggling at times.

While he scored a 91 not out against the West Indies, Smith struggled against New Zealand away from home having only scored 51 runs across four innings. Smith started the 2024 season at No.4 and it now appears he will end back at No.4 where he cemented his name as one of cricket's best ever batters.

And Bailey has claimed his move back down the order was already in the works before Green's injury. The allrounder's injury has forced Smith back down the order regardless of the plans, but Bailey claimed the 35-year-old had already spoken to captain Cummins and it was agreed he would bat at No.4 in the bid to defeat India at home and regain the trophy.

"Pat, Andrew and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green)," Bailey told reporters on Monday. "Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer."

Cummins clearly is aware of the magnitude of the upcoming five-Test series with India who hold the Border-Gavaskar trophy having defeated Australia at home and away. Smith's move behind Marnus Labuschagne at No.3 opens up a position at the top of the order.

Australia has been waiting for a batter to put their hand up to take Warner's long-term role. And candidates will have an opportunity to stake their claim in the Sheffield Shield in the coming weeks.

Cameron Green injury prompts Aussie reshuffle

Green was widely expected to miss the five-Test series against India that gets underway at Perth's Optus Stadium on November 22 after reporting lower back pain during September's tour of the UK. But after confirmation on Monday that he'll miss the entire Border-Gavaskar series against India, Green also looks set to be ruled out of Australia's Test tour of Sri Lanka in February and the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.

That's due to the fact the 25-year-old has opted to go under the knife to fix his ongoing back issues, meaning he faces an expected recovery time of six months - also putting his participation in the Indian Premier League at risk. The loss of Green, and Smith moving back down the order, means Australia need a new opener. Former Test captain Mark Taylor has tipped Cameron Bancroft to earn a recall after being the leading scorer in the Sheffield Shield for the past two seasons.