Steve Smith has made it clear to coaching staff he wants to open the batting

There are some inside the Australian dressing room who think Steve Smith has always had the answer to the question on everyone’s lips.

Australian coach Andrew McDonald is considering the prospect of Steve Smith stepping into David Warner’s shoes as a Test opener, a move that the veteran batsman himself has openly advocated.

Barely a month ago, you’d have full license to believe Smith opening the batting was as outlandish as Ricky Ponting making a comeback. But it’s an idea the Aussie superstar has toyed with for quite a while now, according to McDonald.

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The Aussie coach said they will need to weigh up what the former captain brings to the table at the first or second drop position before shifting him to an unfamiliar role in the final years of his career.

After a commanding 3-0 victory against Pakistan, the focus now turns to the upcoming series against the West Indies, who will field a less than optimal squad for the two Tests as a number of key players choose to prioritise T20.

Cricket Australia is set to announce the squad for the first Test in Adelaide on January 17, with the primary question being the replacement for the retiring Warner.

Warner drew some backlash for putting forward his choice for his replacement -- Marcus Harris -- who he believed had done the most work to earn the spot.

But there are other options being considered.

Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft and even Cameron Green have been floated for the position. But there are some in the Aussie dressing room who think Smith’s technique would suit the role perfectly.

Speaking after the final day in Sydney, Marnus Labuschagne fully endorsed Smith to front up against the new ball, implying the new challenge could help him out of his relative form rut.

“He wants it, that’s for sure,” Labuschagne told cricket.com.au.

Marnus Labuschagne has fully endorsed Steve Smith to take David Warner’s spot at the top of the order.

“And jeez, what can’t that guy do? He averages 67 at four, 62 at three, 58 at five. I’m sure if we go down that path and give it to him, he’s going to average in the 60s opening.

“I think it could be a good challenge for him. It could be one that gets him out and gets his beans going, out (to bat) straightaway, ball swinging around and nipping around, he’s got a beautiful technique to combat any type of bowling.

“There’s probably no one you want out there more.”

Smith has spent a chunk of his career batting at No. 3 with a lot of success, and has proven capable of overcoming most bowlers’ intricate plans to dismiss him in crucial moments of the game.

His dogged resilience and unorthodox style could be exactly what Australia needs to plug the gap in the years ahead.

Coach McDonald acknowledged that Smith’s desire to shift positions has been known for a few weeks and emphasised the importance of considering all available options.

Pundits believe the new challenge could help Smith out of his form rut.

He pointed out that Smith’s batting at three or four remains an attractive option for the team, and the team must strike a balance in filling the opening gap without sacrificing the overall strengths of the squad.

McDonald notes the uniqueness of Warner’s playing style, making his replacement a challenging task.

“He’s mentioned it throughout the last couple of weeks. So yeah, he’s put his view forward. Consider all options,” McDonald said.

“He made those public so we’ll consider all options. So it’s nice to have him putting his hand up. I think there’s a few others that weren’t putting their hand up,” McDonald said.

“Steve at three or four is pretty appetising also. So you’ve got to make sure you’re not removing the strengths of the team in the search to fill a gap also. So there’s a balance within that.

“There’s many different ways to play as an opener. We’ve been lucky in having David Warner. Sometimes people that play that way aren’t exactly replaceable. There’s not another David Warner out there.”

Australia’s series against the West Indies kicks off at the Adelaide Oval on January 17th.