Australia vs. West Indies news: Selectors thought Steve Smith was joking about opening the batting

Steve Smith has revealed he floated the idea of replacing David Warner at the top of the order during the 2023 Ashes series. It took selectors six months to realise the former captain was serious about the move.

Steve Smith says Australian selectors thought he was joking when he first canvassed the idea of replacing David Warner as Test opener.

Smith said on Sunday that he had floated the idea as early as during last year’s Ashes tour but that it wasn’t until the start of 2024 that the idea of him moving alongside Usman Khawaja started growing serious legs.

Asked if he thought the selectors had taken him seriously when he raised the prospect of an elevation to the top of the order, Smith said: “Not really.

“I’ve kind of been pushing it for a few weeks, even before Perth I think, and I might have been floated in England just randomly and said ‘I’ll get up top and I’m happy to play up top’.

“In Perth, I kind of said ‘you know after Davey’s done I’m actually keen to get up there’.

“I don’t think they sort of took me seriously until I got to Sydney and I was like ‘I’m actually being genuine here. I’d be keen to get up top and face the new ball.’

“And they were like, ‘all right, well, we’ll take that under advisement and see how it all looks.’

Steve Smith said selectors didn’t take him seriously. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“You know, I think they are very keen to get Cameron (Green) in the side as well, I think and sort of play our best six batters.

“For me, it didn’t sort of sit right having him come in and bat up top.

“I’ve played for a long time and I’m an experienced player and I think it’s something that I should have done.”

Smith was talking in Adelaide, where the Test squad has convened before the start of the series against the West Indies.

He said he wasn’t certain whether he would play out his Test career as an opener but he didn’t want to contemplate the possibility of failure.

“I don’t want to think negative thoughts at all,” Smith said. “So you can you can have your opinion on that.

“(I’m an opener) for now, I suppose. Depends what happens. If someone gets injured in the middle and the next batter is a genuine opener, maybe they slot back in there and I go back down.

“I don’t know the answer but for right now we have what we believe is our best six batters playing and I’m slotting in up top.”

The former Australian captain said he was relishing the chance to face the new ball and he didn’t enjoy having to wait to bat.

“I’m looking forward to it, the opportunity to get in and face the new ball,’’ Smith said.

Steve Smith uses the edge bat at the Adelaide Oval. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

“It’s something that isn’t really foreign to me. There have been numerous occasions where I’ve come in early doors and batted at No.3 for quite a while there.

“Really, the only reason I went down to No.4 was because I was captain. I wanted to give myself some more time to just refresh mentally after thinking so much in the field before going out to bat and I don’t have to do that anymore.

“So it’s perfect to get in early and face the music. I enjoy getting in and facing the new ball anyway.”

While Smith said the captaincy had contributed to him dropping down the order, filling in for Pat Cummins on occasion would not require him to revert to No.4.

Smith said having all-rounder Green return to the side – a move allowed by Smith’s shift up the order – was a major positive for the team with bat, ball and in the field.

“I mean, it’s probably 40 runs a game saved at least there (at gully),’’ he said.

“So he’s plus-40 before he even faces a ball, so it’s pretty good. And the catches he takes there are incredible as well.

“So we’re excited to have him back. It’s like having four slips just standing next to each other in that region.”

Originally published as Australia vs. West Indies news: Selectors thought Steve Smith was joking about opening the batting