Why Steve Smith is relishing the chance to open the batting in Tests for Australia

Steve Smith’s night in the Sydney Smash didn’t end the way he wanted to, but the run machine has revealed the reason behind he wanted to head up the top of the order.

Steve Smith has signalled a chance to spend more time at the crease influenced his desire to move up the order and open the batting for Australia.

The 34-year-old didn’t have a lot to celebrate on Friday night after being dismissed for a golden duck in his Big Bash return.

Smith’s stay at the crease ended in the very first ball of the game when he mistimed a hook shot off Daniel Sams straight to Nathan McAndrew at deep square leg in front of a sold-out SCG.

However, Smith revealed before the game how excited he is to become his country’s newest Test opener.

Smith was dismissed for a golden duck in his BBL return. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“I mean, there’s been conversations happening for a little while,” Smith said on Fox Cricket.

“Obviously, knowing that Davey was gonna finish up in Sydney and I know they were keen to get Cameron Green back into the fold as well.

“For me, it was a conversation saying, ‘I’m keen to go up to the top. If you were thinking about Greeny up the top, he hasn’t done it at all’. [Green] bats four in Shield cricket.”

Smith also claimed his desire to get to the crease earlier in the innings drove his desire to move up the order.

The prolific batter is 486 runs away from 10,000 runs at Test level. If he can reach that total in the next seven innings or fewer, he will become the quickest player to that milestone in history.

Smith will be given the first chance to fill Warner’s shoes as Australia’s Test opener. Picture: Saeed Khan / AFP

“Since Marnus has been back playing at No.3, I’ve been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time,” Smith said.

“I don’t like waiting to bat, so I thought why don’t I put my hand up and have a crack up top? That way, you can get Cameron Green in and you’re playing your best six batters.

“I am [excited]. I like facing the newer ball. If you look back to the 2019 Ashes, I was in pretty early there most of the time where I was facing the new ball.

“I batted No.3 from a number of years as well and was in early and did pretty well against the new ball.

“So it’s nothing new or foreign to me. I enjoy getting in there and getting amongst it and I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

Smith’s appearance for the Sixers was his last for BBL13 with the first Test against the West Indies beginning on January 17 at Adelaide Oval.

Originally published as Why Steve Smith is relishing the chance to open the batting in Tests for Australia