New Delhi: Australia are planning a major rejig for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India later this year with Steve Smith likely to return to his regular No.4 spot in the batting order. Smith was shifted 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 Green has flourished in the middle-order, scoring 268 runs at a superb average of 53.60, Smith has struggled at the opening spot, amassing runs at just 28.50 in eight innings – well below his overall average of 56.97.
According to a report on the Australian website SEN, Australia will most likely move Smith back in the middle order to make space for India’s nemesis Travis Head.
Head, who also bats in the middle order, is the leading candidate to open with Usman Khawaja. Head’s dominance in the role in both ODI and T20 cricket has made him a favourite to open the innings in the home Test series against India, who still might have physiological scars from the brutal hammerings in the ODI World Cup 2023 final in Ahmedabad and the World Test Championship final at the Oval.
Australia banking on psychological advantage
Australia’s decision to promote Head up the order might be a deliberate ploy as part of the mind games against the mighty Indians.
Head dashed India’s ICC title hopes twice in 2023 with his explosive batting in the ODI World Cup final and the ICC World Test Championship final, scoring blazing centuries to lead Australia’s charge.
Australia head coach Andrew McDonald says the team management already has an eye on their XI to face India in five Tests starting in November.
“That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? Whilst we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one,” McDonald told SEN Whateley.
Rohit Sharma’s men are scheduled to tour Australia from November 2024 to January 2025 to play in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. This will be the first time in 33 years that India will play five Tests in Australia. The series begins on November 22 in Perth before moving to the second Test, a pink-ball match, at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
The Gabba, Brisbane, will host the third Test, while the Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the Boxing Day Test.
The series will conclude at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney.
Reports in media suggest that Australia are set to move Steve Smith back in the middle order to make space for India’s arch-nemesis in the opening slot. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
