Steve Smith stays as opener after CA selector George Bailey backing

Australian selector George Bailey has delivered his verdict on the Steve Smith’s move to open the batting. BEN HORNE analyses CA’s central contract list, which includes several new faces.

Steve Smith is set to continue his polarising tenure as Australia’s opening batsman following the release of a contract list that shows selectors are still unsure who is next in line.

Although there is nine months until Australia lines up for its first Test against India in Perth, National Selector George Bailey has strongly indicated Smith will stay put at the top of the order, although there could be a change of heart for the tour of Sri Lanka in 12 months’ time when Travis Head might go up as a horses for courses opener.

The fact Matthew Renshaw was not given a deal is proof selectors want to start with a clean slate next summer and are challenging the next wave of batsmen around the country to step up to the plate.

Bailey said Australia’s next opener will almost certainly be a specialist not another makeshift option, but that said – Smith doesn’t appear to be moving anywhere in a hurry.

“I’d echo Andrew’s (coach, Andrew McDonald) comments that I don’t think there’s a big enough sample size to be running a line through Steven at the top of the order,” Bailey said.

“We’ve seen some stuff there that we really like and I think the whole purpose of that was working how we could work that top six to function as well as it can.

Australia seems like it will stick with Smith. Picture: Getty Images

“I think there’s some improvement to come there and I think India will be a huge challenge across the summer.

“Given the performances of the team over a period of time, I think the onus is on those outside to make a really compelling case of why someone should be displaced.

“I do think that the guys we have there are in the team for a reason, that top seven are all very good players, they’ve had good performances across a long period of time.

“We’ll continue to back them and expect them to perform.

“It’s hard to project forward to something that’s 10 months away … but I don’t think our thinking around it will change, it will be about trying to get the best six together and making sure they function well together.”

However, Bailey said the rationale behind shifting an established middle-order superstar like Smith to a completely untried position opening the batting was purely due to the priority made of getting a prodigy in Cameron Green into the XI – and is unlikely to be repeated again.

Has George Bailey made the right move? Picture: Getty Images

It means if Smith or Usman Khawaja were to be replaced as openers over the next 12 months, it would be by domestic top order specialists.

“It was a reasonably unique situation in the fact of we had Cam Green out of the Test side and we wanted him back in it. That made the option of facilitating Steve opening a desirable one,” Bailey said.

“I don’t necessarily think we’ve got (another) Cam Green waiting outside the XI.

“… I’d say it’s probably likely the next opportunity goes to a top order player.”

Selectors have the power to hand out a maximum of 24 contracts but settled on 23, including newcomers Xavier Bartlett, Aaron Hardie and Matt Short.

The decision to go one short was largely because selectors admit there is no obvious next batsman in line who deserves to be rewarded or anointed.

“It’s an exciting moment because clearly we’ve made our hands bare on that front, I think. There’s opportunities that are going to come up,” Bailey said.

If only Australia had another Cameron Green waiting in the wings. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s going to be a huge start to the summer. India are coming out and they’re going to send out an A team as well so there’s going to be a couple of really strong A games to start the year. I’ve been clear with a number of players that there’s going to be great opportunities come the start of the year.

“I think it’s open for anyone to jump up and grab the opportunity.

“… I guess a blank page is a good way of describing it. Marcus Harris is one who has come off contract but he’s firmly in that mix as well. Cam Bancroft and Nathan McSweeney have had wonderful seasons as well.”

Bailey also made mention of Hardie, Beau Webster and Josh Inglis as specialist batting options on the radar for Test cricket.

Glenn Maxwell is also a contender for next February’s Test tour of Sri Lanka, even if he plays no red ball cricket in the meantime.

Originally published as Steve Smith stays as opener after CA selector George Bailey backing