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Steve Smith will take over from David Warner and open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja for Australia’s Test team, selector George Bailey said yesterday ahead of a two-match series against West Indies later this month.
Australian media reported this week that Smith and all-rounder Cameron Green were among the frontrunners for the vacant opener spot following Warner’s retirement.
“There were plenty within the team who were pretty keen to go on record and say that they weren’t keen to do it,” Bailey told reporters.
“So it was refreshing that Steve had come forward and said he wanted it and it was something that we’d been chatting about in the background as a selection panel with the coaches as well.
“It’s selfless that someone who has had so much success in one position or a couple of positions in the middle order is open and willing and hungry to have a crack at something new and something different.”
Smith, 34, moves up the order from number four in the batting line-up.
Cricket Australia said earlier on yesterday that Green will play in the first Test against West Indies.—Reuters.
Bongani Ndlovu
Mathew Masinge