New Delhi: Australia should pick a specialist opener rather than make Steve Smith bat up the order in their upcoming five-match Test series against India, says former skipper Michael Clarke.
India travel to Australia for the high-octane Border Gavaskar Trophy, which they have won in the last four editions – two at home and two away.
Smith has been Australia’s best batter of the current generation, batting at the No.4 slot. But he moved up the order once David Warner’s retired though he hasn’t enjoyed much great success at the top.
“We made a mistake in getting Steve Smith to open the batting in Test cricket, so let’s not make the same mistake. Let’s pick a specialist opener, whoever is best equipped,” Clarke told Sky Sports Radio.
Warner recently expressed a desire to return to the Test team but Australia are yet to decide who would be their preferred openers for the India series.
All-rounder Cameron Green could have been a worthy option but has been ruled out with a back injury, leaving Australia to look closely at Sam Konstas and Marcus Harris though Josh Inglis and Nathan McSweeney are lso believed to be in the reckoning.
Inglis and McSweeney’s have been in form in Sheffield Shield but haven’t batted as openers, which Clarke said should rule them out of reckoning.
“How can you justify Josh Inglis is a better person to open the batting in a Test match against this Indian attack than a specialist opener?” he said.
“He scored Shield runs, yes, but he bats in the middle order. It’s not just about who’s making runs right here, right now. That is not how you select an Australian cricket team.
“The problem they (Australia) have at the moment is the top three contenders who are specialist opening batters are not making runs in Shield cricket.
“Who gives a s**t? It’s been two Shield rounds on wickets that are seaming — who cares? It can’t just be about making runs in the two Shield games.”
Clarke also felt that Cameron Bancroft should be included in the team after performing in the Shield in the last three seasons.
“I would probably go with Cameron Bancroft because he’s been the leading run scorer for the last two years in Shield cricket. I care about Shield cricket. I think he’s earned the right to be selected based on runs,” he added.
