Facing backlash at the Australian team management’s decision to promote Steve Smith to the opener’s slot after the right-hander has managed just 171 runs at an average of 28.50 since taking up the role, coach Andrew McDonald has backed Smith to continue in the position for the side’s next ICC World Test Championship assignment against India at the end of the year.
Rubbing salt to the injury, the 34-year-old Smith could only manage 51 runs from four knocks during the recently-completed 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
McDonald, however, pointed to Australia’s recent good form in red ball cricket that has seen them rise to the second spot on the WTC standings, and backed Smith to remain a key member of their starting side during the five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, commencing in November.
“That’s not to say there won’t be changes, but at the moment we’ve won 2-0 here, and had a 12-Test run where we won eight with (four) of those being away from home (in England and New Zealand),” McDonald said.
“It’s going to be a hard group to infiltrate, it will take something special I think. No doubt everyone is still asking the question around Steve Smith. He is a great player and his ability to problem solve is one of his great strengths.”
“He’s been challenged in these conditions as the surfaces have been new-ball wickets, and no doubt there will be a debate as to what his best position is. But he’s up for the challenge, and I think any time that Steve Smith fails he sees it as a greater challenge,” the coach added.
McDonald is hopeful that Smith will work on his shortcomings against the new ball, and will be up for the challenge against the Indians.
“Walking away here (in New Zealand) with 51 runs under his belt in tough conditions, that will no doubt drive him for the next challenge and that next challenge is India. They await, and I think it will be an internal motivator for him. He wants to open, it’s a position that he came to us around and we think he can make it work,” McDonald said while adding that the seasoned batter deserves a longer rope at the top of the order.
“He’ll be able to work through that, it’s a new challenge for him, it’s a new position. And if you’re bringing in a new opener and you gave them four Test matches, and then said ‘okay; we’re going to shift that after four Test matches’ would you think that’s fair or unfair? I think that’s reasonably unfair,” he said.