Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding Steve Smith‘s batting position in the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy and more importantly Test cricket. Finch believes that Smith should revert to his traditional No. 4 slot, a position where he has consistently excelled throughout his career.
Smith’s recent stint at the top of the order, necessitated by David Warner‘s retirement, has not yielded the desired results. While he has shown glimpses of his class, his overall consistency has been lacking, especially against quality opposition.
Aaron Finch’s plea for Steve Smith’s return to number 4
Finch suggested that Smith’s promotion to the opening slot was a tactical move to accommodate Cameron Green at No. 4, given the team’s desire to develop Green as a key player.
“(Smith opening) did make a bit of sense when you’re trying to find the best spot for Cameron Green in the side when everybody’s been quite open about the fact that they want to push him in the side no matter what it takes,” Finch stated in a conversation with 7News.
While Smith has shown his adaptability by succeeding as an opener, Finch believes that his long-standing success at No. 4 makes it a more suitable position for him.
“I can see where the move came from, Steve putting his hand up and saying, ‘You know what, maybe it is time for a new challenge,’ and he proved himself a good opener, no doubt about that. But, I mean, when you’ve averaged near on 60 over your career, I think it’s time to head back in that direction, in my opinion,” he added.
A balanced batting order
Finch’s suggestion to move Smith back to No. 4 is not without merit. It would allow Australia to create a more balanced batting lineup, with experienced batters in the middle order. Additionally, it would provide Smith with the opportunity to play his natural game and capitalize on his strengths.
Also READ: Former Australian coach Justin Langer picks the ideal batting position for Steve Smith in Test cricket
Travis Head and Alex Carey: A dynamic duo
To accommodate Smith’s return to No. 4, Finch has proposed a bold move, promoting Travis Head to the opening slot. Head has shown promise as an opener in the past, and his aggressive style could be a valuable asset at the top of the order.
Finch has also backed Alex Carey to fill the void left by Head in the middle order. Carey has demonstrated his ability to play aggressive shots and has the potential to be a valuable asset with both bat and gloves.
“All around the world, he’s probably proved himself to be an outstanding wicket-keeper and then the runs are really important, especially against a team like India. Their bowling attack is so strong that you can’t allow them to dictate terms to you because they’re so consistent. They’re so accurate. So the way that he plays and puts the pressure back on oppositions will be a really crucial role at No. 7ebecause there will be early wickets,” Finch explained.
Carey had scored a counter-attacking 65 off 49 deliveries and an unbeaten 98 off 123 deliveries against the West Indies and New Zealand, respectively, earlier this year to rescue his side. The wicket-keeper batter has proven to be a handy addition with the bat and averages 31.88 in Test cricket.
Also READ: Usman Khawaja selects Steve Smith’s batting position for the BGT 2024-25 against India
