Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be commencing on November 22, the most anticipated series of the year. Whenever India and Australia face each other something clashes happens and this rivalry is special for everyone.
Both of them created some great memories whenever they played the test series. Over the years it has created hype in fans and grabbed the attention. Australia haven’t been able to dictate BGT and it won’t be wrong to say that they have played their best cricket in Ashes & World Cups.
Matthew Hayden feels Steve Smith is not an opener
Steve Smith is a world-class player and his consistency has proved that he wants to stay here for a long time, over the years his game has improved especially in ICC events his performance has been berserk. After David Warner retired from tests, Steve Smith held the responsibility of opening however he hasn’t felt his shoes properly past few innings only one half-century has been scored by him and he has been on a break since 2022 neither he been included in white ball format nor he was part of IPL just playing test cricket. Aussie legend Matthew Hayden has raised questions and also feels that Steve Smith is not an opener he is a middle-order batsman, Matthew Hayden said:
“The rationale that [national selector] George Bailey gave was correct in so far as that he was choosing his best top six batsmen. Now, you can’t argue with Steven Smith, he is averaging 65 [57] in Test-match cricket… 32 Test-match hundreds,” Hayden said on the sidelines of the CEAT cricket rating awards in Mumbai.
“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 as they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand, that opening the batting is very difficult,” he added.
“I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn’t like changing. 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,” Hayden explained.
“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.”
Can Steve Smith turn the stones into real when he will face India’s mighty bowling line-up? Steve Smith has emerged as best test cricketer when he bolstered his innings against every opponent.
Also Read: ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Matthew Hayden Feels MS Dhoni Can Lead Australia Team As well