Smith set to drop down the order as “outstanding favourite” emerges to open in Tests

Veteran cricket journalist Robbert Craddock is certain Steve Smith won’t be opening the batting in the upcoming Test series against India.

Smith moved to the top of the order following David Warner’s retirement last summer, giving Cameron Green a chance to bat in his preferred No. 4 slot.

While the move has paid off for Green, who has made 268 runs @ 53.60 since making the move, it hasn’t worked as well for Smith who is averaging 28.50 opening after eight innings in the role – down on his overall average of 56.97.

As a result of those numbers, Craddock says Smith will move back into the middle order and he thinks that No. 5 Travis Head is the leading candidate to open with Usman Khawaja given his dominance in the role in both ODI and T20 cricket.

While opening isn’t Head’s preference, he doesn’t expect the South Australian to be criticised if he fails given how well he has been performing in the middle order in red-ball cricket.

“I’m particularly taken by Head’s form because Steve Smith isn’t going to stay opening the batting in the Test series against India, it just won’t happen,” Craddock told SEN Whateley.

“They have minimal options, but Head is at the front line of that queue even though he doesn't really want to be. I don't think he sees himself as an opening bat in Test cricket.

“But I think if he does accept the position - and so he should because the team should come first - to open the batting with Usman Khawaja, I think he brings credit points with him.

“There is a bit of a cushion if he fails because it wasn't his plan, he never volunteered to go there. So if he fails, he has the rider of saying, ‘Hey, I was going perfectly fine down the order, by the way’.

“But I think he's the outstanding favourite for the position at the moment.”

Craddock says that it’s not only his belief that Smith won’t open, with everyone else that he speaks to who is connected in cricket also holds the same thoughts.

He thinks that Smith’s technique simply isn’t suited to facing a ball that swings around early in the innings and is far more suited to batting at No. 3, 4 or 5.

“I just can't hear a solitary voice pushing for him and I put my hand in the air, I thought it was a good idea,” Craddock said.

“But a lot of the technicians who are far smarter than I am thought it’d be the little things, like when he’s batting at four, he’s only got to really worry about the ball beating the outside edge.

“When he’s opening and the ball is swinging, then it can beat the inside edge and that’s where that across-the-crease LBW comes into play.

“I just don't think it (Smith opening) is going to happen and every person who I run into around the place in cricket over the last few weeks doesn't think it's going to happen, and probably nor should it.”

The first Test between Australia and India begins on November 22 in Perth.