Australia v West Indies First Test squad, team: Could Steve Smith replace David Warner as opener?

The statistics support Steve Smith’s move to opener to replace David Warner, but not everyone is a fan – with one selector arguing the move was not in the best interests of the team.

Former national selector Merv Hughes says moving Steve Smith to the top of the order would be shortsighted as the candidates to replace David Warner were made to wait another 24 hours before learning their fate.

Having initially indicated that the Test squad for the West Indies series would be unveiled on Tuesday, the national selection panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and coach Andrew McDonald bought themselves another day of deliberation.

An announcement is now set for Wednesday, just a week out from the first Test.

Several of the major contenders were still in the dark on Monday.

Former captain Smith’s 11th-hour push to shift up from No.4, which would allow Cameron Green to have a smooth return to the XI, has muddied the waters.

Steve Smith of Australia looks dejected after being dismissed in the third Test. Picture: Getty

Test discards Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw are the three specialist openers in the mix to replace Warner, who announced his plans to retire from Test cricket more than seven months ago.

However, the selectors are also to keen to recall all-rounder Green, who has been squeezed out of the side since the fifth Test of the Ashes after Mitch Marsh’s stunning return at Headingley last July.

Marsh, Green, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne have all shown only lukewarm interest at best in moving to the top of the order but Smith said in recent days that he would jump at the chance to partner Usman Khawaja.

McDonald later said that Smith had been canvassing support for the move for several weeks.

But former Test star Hughes, who is an ex-Australian selector, cautioned against the idea of Smith opening the batting given his lack of experience in the role.

“I don’t really like it,” Hughes said.

“He’s probably good enough to do it but he’s not an opening bat.

“It’s the same thing with Cameron Green and Mitch Marsh going up. Sure they do it in the white-ball stuff but Test cricket is very different.

“Mitch Marsh has been very successful where he is, Travis Head has been very successful where he is, Smith and Labuschagne (too). So they have that sorted out.

“You have Usman Khawaja at the top, they have the opportunity to blood someone younger if they wanted.”

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said Smith had enormous potential as an opener.

“He will be the number one Test opener in 12 months,” Clarke said on the Around The Wicket podcast.

“Don’t be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara’s 400 record because he’s that good, and now he’s got the whole day or two days to bat.”

While Hughes is not a fan of redeploying Smith, he said the current selectors were in a fortunate position.

“Probably the good thing for the selectors is they have options,’’ he said.

“It’s not that they have to really scrape the bottom of the barrel.

“The thing about it, whoever misses out is going to be disappointed. It’s going to be interesting to see what they do.

“I don’t think it’s tough. It’s only tough when you haven’t got options. The strength of the side isn’t who’s in it, it’s who’s out.”

McDonald did not shut the door on the possible Smith move when speaking after Australia’s third Test win over Pakistan.

“He’s mentioned it throughout the last couple of weeks,” McDonald said.

“He’s put his view forward and we will consider all options.

(But) Steve at three or four is pretty appetising also. You have to make sure you’re not removing the strengths of the team in the search to fill a gap, so there’s a balance within that.”

Originally published as Australia v West Indies First Test squad, team: Could Steve Smith replace David Warner as opener?