Steve Smith may drop down order for Twenty20 World Cup to let Shane Watson loose

STEVE Smith’s first job as Twenty20 captain could be to drop himself down to No. 4 and allow Australia to best use its $2 million man Shane Watson.

Australia captain Steve Smith (centre) laughs with team mates prior to a team photograph at the start of the third one-day international (ODI) match between New Zealand and Australia at Seddon Park, Hamilton, Monday, Feb. 8, 2016. (AAP Image/SNPA, Martin Hunter) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

STEVE Smith’s first job as Twenty20 captain could be to drop himself down to No. 4 and allow Australia to best use its $2 million man Shane Watson.

Giving up his beloved first-drop position for the sake of the team would be an exact replica of Smith’s unselfish opening act as Test skipper at the start of this summer.

In Watson, Australia have one of the most sought-after weapons in white ball history at their disposal, however the scope of the all-rounder’s effectiveness hinges on how he is used.

Australia’s T20 ranks are stacked with top order options - with in-form superstar Usman Khawaja also in line to make the cut - but the soft underbelly of the middle was brutally exposed in the recent 3-0 whitewash at the hands of India.

Smith’s versatility means he’s the man to help fix the balance of a line-up that will face its ultimate test in sub-continental conditions and in a tournament that Australia has never won.

If there was one epiphany to come from the one-sided carve-up against India, it was the iron-clad proof that T20 powerhouse Watson must bat in the top three where he is at his most dangerous and can’t be so easily bogged down by spinners.

A line-up that features Watson up top, Smith at No. 4 and the match-changing Glenn Maxwell at 5 presents a far more balanced order from which Australia can attack in all match situations.

Smith’s decision to shift away from his favoured post at No. 3 at the start of the Test summer was aimed at protecting Australia’s vulnerable top order from collapses.

Shane Watson was the costliest buy at the Indian Premier League auctions this year.

However, in the twenty-over game Smith’s potential move is all about Australia trying to fix the top-heavy nature of its batting line-up that struggled to gel against India.

Regardless of who Australia settles on with their 15-man World Twenty20 squad to be announced this morning, it will be choc-full of opening options. Watson and David Warner are certain selections and Aaron Finch (fitness depending), Usman Khawaja and even Shaun Marsh are all strongly in contention.

To bat any of these stars any lower down than No. 3 would be playing them badly out of position.

Australia found this out with the way they handled Watson against India.

Coming out in the middle-order in the first two matches he was bogged down by the slow bowlers, but in the third game when allowed to open the powerful right-hander smashed the second biggest international T20 hundred of all time.

Smith has not played a lot of Twenty20 cricket for Australia but has looked every bit the part when he has and has also dominated for the Sydney Sixers.

Josh Hazlewood is poised to lead Australia’s Wold Cup attack, with Nathan Coulter-Nile also pushing strongly for a recall alongside John Hastings and James Faulkner.