Justin Langer wants Steve Smith at four in Tests

After David Warner’s retirement, Steve Smith expressed his desire to open in Test cricket and the team management agreed with the decision as it allowed them to play an extra all-rounder in Cameron Green. The move didn’t do well as barring a 91 against West Indies in the second Test at Gabba, Smith’s record as an opener doesn’t look any good. He averages 28.50 as an opener, which looks pale in front of his 56.97 in the format.

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer feels that Smith should be back at number four in the next series, which is against India. He mentioned that the veteran batter would improve as an opener and that’s given but feels that Smith is better suited at number four and that it would affect the opponent psychologically.

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“He’s the greatest player we’ve had. Great players adapt, they can bat anywhere in the order. For the Australian cricket team, I think he’s best suited to bat number four,” Langer said in Cricket et al podcast.

“I think it’s a really specialised position (number four). It’s not that he can’t do it (open the batting). I’d love to see him bat at No.4, but then they have to work out who doesn’t play. My observation was that it was more about trying to get Cameron Green in and Mitch Marsh had taken that (all-rounders’) role, but they wanted to get the best young player into the XI,” he added.

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Smith’s opening partner Usman Khawaja too feels that the cricketer should return back to number four. Australia are eager to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and ahead of that, the team management is pondering on various ideas. Captain Pat Cummins has already confirmed that he would back the all-rounders in the five-match series and if he aims to fit both Green and Mitchell Marsh in the squad, Smith might continue as an opener.