Matthew Hayden, a former opening batter for Australia, is opposed to Steven Smith opening the batting in a Test match. Smith should bat where he has scored the majority of his runs, according to Hayden, who calls it “crazy” to move him to a “completely different position”. Before David Warner surpassed him in December 2023, Hayden was Australia’s most successful opener in Test cricket. He feels that the top three spots should be “protected” in Test cricket.

“The rationale that [national selector] George Bailey gave was correct in so far as that he was choosing his best top six batsmen,” Hayden said on the fringes of the Mumbai CEAT Cricket Rating Awards, of Australia’s batting plans. “Now, you can’t argue with Steven Smith, he is averaging 65 [57] in Test-match cricket…. 32 Test-match hundreds.

“But, the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different. And it didn’t take long to discover that when you get into challenging conditions, like they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand, that opening the batting is very difficult.”

It was earlier in the year when Smith made his first appearance as an opener in red-ball cricket, during the first two home Test matches against the West Indies and the next two matches in New Zealand. He made just one half-century and the unbeaten 91 in Brisbane – at an average of 28.50 in those eight innings, and was out for 12 or less five times. He averages 61.50 at No. 4 and 67.07 at No. 3, in contrast.

“I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn’t like changing,” Hayden added. “I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position. For a few reasons, I think that’s crazy. Firstly, why? Such a gun in that position, such a coveted player.

“And then it also is not a great nod to the first-class set-up, which is very much in the Australian culture, been driving great results towards key roles, be that any one of the roles – wicketkeeping, batting, spinners, fast bowlers, opening batters. So the [batting positions of] one, two, and three is a category that needs to be protected in my opinion. It sets up play.”

Should Australia decide to drop Smith further in the order, they will need to find a new partner for Usman Khawaja, the opener. Smith and Khawaja have opened in each of Australia’s four Test matches since Warner’s final Test at the SCG earlier this year; Smith’s removal from the opening spot would entail an inexperienced batter taking his place.  

Smith recently stated that he had “no idea” where he will bat in the India Tests and that a decision will be made following Australia’s white-ball tour of the United Kingdom, which begins on September 4. During this trip, Australia will play three Twenty20 Internationals and five One-Day Internationals against England, and a T20I series against Scotland. Smith had previously said, “I’m happy anywhere and I’ll bat wherever for the team.” Cummins and Bailey have both signaled recently that Australia will probably start their Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign with the same top six that they had used in their previous four Test matches.