Ian Healy urges Australian selectors to promote Steve Smith as opener in white-ball cricket

Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Ian Healy has questioned the national selectors for not considering Australia's batting mainstay Steve Smith for the role of an opener in the limited-overs set-up. Healy’s remarks have come as the middle-order batter is going through a purple patch in the ongoing Big Bash League (BBL) 2022, having registered two successive centuries and a half-century to his name.

At the same time, Ian Healy has also opined that this is the right opportunity for the selectors to promote Smith as an opener in white-ball cricket as the seasoned batters Aaron Finch and David Warner have not been in the best of form in the shortest format of late.

Steve Smith overtakes both Aaron Finch and David Warner in my eyes: Ian Healy

“Who opened with (David) Warner in the T20 World Cup? It was Finchy (Aaron Finch) who was captain. Both Warner and Finch aren’t playing anywhere near as well as Smith, so he overtakes both of those in my eyes with the way he’s batting now," Healy told Sportsday NSW.

“We don’t play many international T20s so hopefully he’s doing this (scoring big in BBL) in the lead-up to the next World Cup. Even in the 50-over game I’d be opening with him as well,” he added.

“I feel like it’s a privilege watching him. When he gets out, seeing how hard the others are doing it, the discrepancy between him and the rest is unbelievable, it’s very Bradman-like,” the ex-Aussie stumper further added.

Smith has amassed 328 runs in four innings in the ongoing BBL 12 and has played match-winning knocks in the Sixers’ convincing victories over cross-town rivals Sydney Thunder, Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes.

The 33-year-old would be expected to bring his 'A' game in the knockout fixtures. Sydney Sixers will next be seen in action against the reigning champions Perth Scorchers in the Qualifier at the Perth Stadium on Saturday, January 28.

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