Australian coach McDonald backs Smith as opener for Test series in India

Australian coach McDonald backs Smith as opener: Andrew McDonald the coach of Australia supports Smith for the Test series in India and predicts that Steve Smith is likely to continue as the opener for Australia in the Test series against India at the end of the year.

The 34-year-old Steve Smith is one of the world’s top batsmen in the past decade.

Andrew thinks it’s too early to assess Steve Smith’s performance as a Test opener and has emphasized that alterations to the batting lineup are improbable before India’s visit at the end of the year.

Smith took over David Warner’s position at the top of the order following Warner’s retirement from Tests in January.

McDonald acknowledges that it would require something exceptional to displace the veteran batter from his new role as the opener for Australia’s next ICC World Test Championship challenge against India.

Despite Smith’s modest performance since taking on the opener role, contributing just 171 runs at an average of 28.50 in recent matches, including 51 runs in the 2-0 series win over New Zealand.

McDonald believes Smith will be a formidable presence in the upcoming Test series. The ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting’s expectation of Smith making it to Australia’s 15-player squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in June in the USA and the Caribbean aligns with McDonald’s confidence in Smith’s resilience.

McDonald emphasizes Australia’s recent success in Test cricket, propelling them to second place in the World Test Championship standings. He anticipates that Smith will continue to be a crucial figure in the team’s lineup as they prepare to face India in the five-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting in November.

Australian coach McDonald backs Smith as opener

McDonald anticipates that Smith will address any weaknesses he may have against the new ball and return as a stronger opener when the series against India begins.

Speaking to reporters McDonald said,

“I don’t think it’s deserved.

“He’ll be able to work through that, it’s a new challenge for him, it’s a new position.

“And if you’re bringing in a new opener and you gave them four Test matches and then said ‘okay; we’re going to shift that after four Test matches’ would you think that’s fair or unfair?

“I think that’s reasonably unfair.”

“It’s going to be a hard group to infiltrate, it will take something special I think.

McDonald clarified that Smith remains motivated by the challenge of opening, the right-hander would receive another chance to demonstrate his abilities at the top of the order in the Test series against India.

“No doubt everyone is still asking the question around Steve Smith.

“He is a great player and his ability to problem solve is one of his great strengths.

“He’s been challenged in these conditions as the surfaces have been new-ball wickets, and no doubt there will be a debate as to what his best position is.

“But he’s up for the challenge, and I think any time that Steve Smith fails he sees it as a greater challenge.”

“Walking away here (in New Zealand) with 51 runs under his belt in tough conditions, that will no doubt drive him for the next challenge and that next challenge is India,” McDonald noted.

“They await, and I think it will be an internal motivator for him.

“He wants to open, it’s a position that he came to us around and we think he can make it work.”

“I think it’s unfair, and that will probably mean I’m going into defensive mode around my player,” McDonald said.

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