AUS vs WI: Smith to take his skills to the highest and open Australia’s innings in first check in opposition to West Indies

If the final check in opposition to Pakistan was all about David Warner’s pending retirement, the series-opener in opposition to West Indies facilities round newly-promoted opener Steve Smith.

And Smith, true to his technical, analytical self, has dared the Caribbean assault to waste the brand new ball by bowling short-pitched deliveries to him.

Smith volunteered and was elevated from No. 4 to open with Usman Khawaja. They’ll mix first when Australia bats within the first of two assessments beginning Wednesday at Adelaide Oval.

Smith mentioned the techniques opponents have used in opposition to him prior to now will now danger blemishing the brand new ball by touchdown it midway down the pitch.

He needs to attain extra freely within the position, making the most of attacking fields and lengths in the best way Warner so typically did in a 112-test profession that ended on the Sydney Cricket Ground final week with a 3-0 Australia sweep over Pakistan.

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“It’s pretty game, I suppose, with a brand new ball; bowling short stuff and wasting it,” Smith instructed Australian Associated Press. “I think it helps the scoring rate for sure when you’re facing the new ball and there’s a bit more attacking going on.

“Over the last few years I’ve come in after quite a lot of runs . . . that’s probably kept me quieter and made me face a lot more balls to score runs. So perhaps that changes a bit with the new ball, you have a bit more attacking fields and more gaps out there to score runs.”

Cameron Green will make his first check look for Australia because the Ashes sequence in England final June after being recalled to the beginning XI. He’s anticipated to bat within the No. 4 spot vacated by Smith, an ex-Australia captain and top-ranked check batter who has been a middle-order batsman for many of his profession.

“I’ve let all the guys know obviously how much I love playing at No. 4, and I’m obviously grateful for the opportunity,” Green mentioned. “No. 4 is where I feel like I can take my time and settle in.”

The 24-year-old allrounder has batted at No. 6 in all of his earlier 24 assessments, averaging 33.59, along with his solely century coming in opposition to India in Ahmedabad final March.

Pakistan’s loss on the SCG stored the check staff winless in Australia since 1995, and West Indies are on an analogous flawed aspect of a streak — they haven’t gained a check match Down Under since February 1997.

Just over a yr from the primary check in opposition to West Indies in November-December 2022, Australia has performed 17 assessments, with only a few personnel modifications over that span.

The West Indies have introduced solely 5 gamers who appeared within the two assessments in opposition to Australia in 2022-23 and have added seven uncapped gamers to the touring squad. The Caribbean squad has performed simply six check matches because the Australia sequence — in opposition to Zimbabwe, South Africa and India — and gained only one.

The second and ultimate check within the sequence, a day-night match on the Gabba in Brisbane, begins January 25.