Steve Smith has told selectors he no longer wants to open the batting in Test matches

After a brief stint as a Test opener, Steve Smith has decided where he wants to bat in the blockbuster five-match series against India.

The Steve Smith opening era is over after the batting superstar told selectors he didn’t want to bat at the top of the order against India.

National selection chief George Bailey confirmed that Smith had spoken to Test captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald and “expressed a desire” to move back down the batting order.

His likely move back to No.4 spot was decided separately to news that Cameron Green, who took Smith’s spot when he opted to open with Usman Khawaja, required back surgery and would be sidelined for six months.

Smith made just one half century in his four Tests as an opener, against first the West Indies and then New Zealand, finishing his short stint at the top with a batting average of just 28.5 compared with a career average of 56.97 across 109 Tests.

“I think Pat, Andrew and Steve have been having ongoing conversations separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway,” Bailey said on Monday.

“I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position.

“Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he’ll be dropping back down the order for the summer, so clearly we’ve got a No.4 spot to fill and an opening spot to fill.”

It means Bailey has to find an opening partner for Khawaja, with Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and teen sensation Sam Konstas all in the Australia A squad set to play two four-day matches against India A.

Steve Smith’s days as an opener are over. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Bailey said 19-year-old Konstas, who made back-to-back Sheffield Shield centuries for NSW last week, was firmly in selectors’ sights.

“He’s in the mix (for a Test debut) as are plenty of others. I certainly don’t want to single him out,” Bailey said.

“The consistency of Cam Bancroft and Marcus Harris over a number of years, they’ve both had a look at Test cricket as well, so I don’t think there’s any need at this stage to put any undue pressure or expectation on Sam.

“He’s five games into his first-class career, he’s had a good start and he certainly looks like he’s got a well-organised game that we’re really excited (about) and looking forward to seeing at the A level. We’ll continue to look to see how that progresses.

“We’ve got another four weeks till that Test squad’s announced, and what exact order and who is in it is still to be determined.”

Originally published as Steve Smith has told selectors he no longer wants to open the batting in Test matches