File image of Australia’s Steve Smith taking part in a shot. Smith will open the batting for Australia in Tests following the retirement of David Warner
| Photo Credit: AP
If the final Test towards Pakistan was all about David Warner’s pending retirement, the series-opener towards West Indies facilities round newly-promoted opener Steve Smith.
And Smith, true to his technical, analytical self, has dared the Caribbean assault to waste the brand new ball by bowling short-pitched deliveries to him.
Smith volunteered and was elevated from No. 4 to open with Usman Khawaja. They’ll mix first when Australia bats within the first of two Tests beginning Wednesday at Adelaide Oval.
Smith stated the techniques opponents have used towards him up to now will now threat blemishing the brand new ball by touchdown it midway down the pitch.
He needs to attain extra freely within the position, making the most of attacking fields and lengths in the best way Warner so typically did in a 112-Test profession that ended on the Sydney Cricket Ground final week with a 3-0 Australia sweep over Pakistan.
“It’s pretty game, I suppose, with a brand new ball; bowling short stuff and wasting it,” Smith advised Australian Associated Press. “I think it helps the scoring rate for sure when you’re facing the new ball and there’s a bit more attacking going on.
“Over the last few years I’ve come in after quite a lot of runs… that’s probably kept me quieter and made me face a lot more balls to score runs. So perhaps that changes a bit with the new ball, you have a bit more attacking fields and more gaps out there to score runs.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins says he likes what he sees so far from Smith.
“It’s a new challenge for him, which I don’t think you can underestimate,” Cummins stated Tuesday. “I’ve never seen him just as happy and as energetic as I have seen him around the nets the last couple of days. Seeing someone who has basically achieved everything in the game get really excited for a new challenge, you have got to entertain that.”
Cameron Green will make his first Test appearance for Australia since the Ashes series in England last June after being recalled to the starting XI. He’s expected to bat in the No. 4 spot vacated by Smith, an ex-Australia captain and top-ranked Test batter who has been a middle-order batsman for most of his career.
“I’ve let all the guys know obviously how much I love playing at No. 4, and I’m obviously grateful for the opportunity,” Green stated. “No. 4 is the place I really feel like I can take my time and settle in.”
The 24-year-old allrounder has batted at No. 6 in all of his earlier 24 Tests, averaging 33.59, together with his solely century coming towards India in Ahmedabad final March.
Pakistan’s loss on the SCG saved the Test staff winless in Australia since 1995, and West Indies are on an identical incorrect aspect of a streak — they have not gained a Test match Down Under since February 1997.
Just over a yr from the primary Test towards West Indies in November-December 2022, Australia has performed 17 Tests, with only a few personnel modifications over that span.
The West Indies have introduced solely 5 gamers who appeared within the two Tests towards Australia in 2022-23 and have added seven uncapped gamers to the touring squad. The Caribbean squad has performed simply six Test matches because the Australia collection — towards Zimbabwe, South Africa and India — and gained only one.
On Tuesday, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite pleaded for extra Test matches, notably within the Caribbean. Some senior gamers together with former skipper Jason Holder and allrounder Kyle Mayers determined to not play within the Australian tour, selecting as an alternative to play in cashed-up T20 leagues world wide.
Brathwaite stated he doesn’t blame them. “I can’t make a decision for the guys, fully understood why they made the decision. it’s solely up to them,” he advised AAP.
“In the West Indies, we don’t get many Test matches. If we get more… that would help a lot. And obviously incentive for playing Test cricket is always great because you know T20 cricket is out there, T10 cricket is out there, so it will always be tough. But I believe the more (Test) cricket we play, the better.”
The second and remaining Test within the collection, a day-night match on the Gabba in Brisbane, begins Jan. 25.
Source: www.thehindu.com
