If I'm the opposition, I want Steve Smith to open batting: Tim Paine

After David Warner retired from the longest format of the game, Steven Smith expressed his desire to move to the top of the order and the team management granted him to do so. However, the veteran batter has failed to make the most of the opportunities. He failed with the bat in the first Test against West Indies and in the second, he made 91* runs, but Australia ended up losing by eight wickets.

Against New Zealand, he once again struggled, as he finished the two-match series with just 51 runs to his name. After this, former Australia skipper Tim Paine opined that any opposition team will have no problem if Smith decides to continue as an opener, as he has failed massively so far. Despite so, Paine is confident in Smith’s ability against the new ball and believes that the 34-year-old would come out of it soon.

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“I look at it, that if I was playing against Australia, where would I prefer Steve Smith to bat? If I'm the opposition, I want him opening the batting. I want my best bowlers at their freshest with a brand new ball. I was in that Ashes in 2019 and went to England with him in another one and when he was at his best batting at four you just felt he couldn't get out,” Paine told ESPN's Around The Wicket.

"I would love to see him succeed as an opener, I think he can, there's no doubt about that, he's good enough to bat anywhere, but as an opposition player I want him at the top of the order because that gives me the best chance of getting him out,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Australia head coach Andrew McDonald backed Smith despite the latter’s failure as an opener. He mentioned that the team management isn’t pondering about changing his position as Cameron Green has done an excellent job for the team at number four. 

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