‘Pretty happy with his output at No. 4’ - Pat Cummins sceptical of Steve Smith opening in Tests

Soon after David Warner announced his retirement from Test cricket, a lot of openers were put on notice, including the likes of Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw. Notably, the team management was open to the idea of trying Cameron Green at the top of the order, alongside Usman Khawaja. However, ahead of the third Test against Pakistan in Sydney, Steve Smith complicated the situation, expressing his desire to open.

Marnus Labuschange backed the idea and added that it would give him a lot of motivation to get better in the longest format. However, skipper Pat Cummins isn’t a fan of the idea and as mentioned he is happy with Smith playing at number four. The skipper added that he has no problem with number 3 to 6, as Labuschange, Smith, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh have performed well.

“I'm pretty happy with (Smith's) output at No. 4. Obviously Marnus (Labuschagne), Smudge (Smith), Trav (Head) and (Mitchell) Marsh have been pretty impressive at Nos. 3, 4, 5 and 6. So first instinct isn't probably to disrupt that,” Cummins was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

Will be really hard to replicate Davey: Pat Cummins

Warner had been a force to reckon with in red-ball cricket, and Cummins mentioned that it will be hard for the team to replace him. The 30-year-old did not give a clear indication of the player who can replace Warner in the playing XI but mentioned that the players scoring runs in the Sheffield Shield will be considered.

“It's obviously going to be really hard to replicate Davey (David Warner) and what he's brought to it. I think you look for who is best placed to score runs, really. But I think, in Test cricket, there are some things that remain true - and that is you've got to be putting the pressure on the opposition. You've got to be ticking over the scoreboard. Not always - but most of the time - you've got to keep the scoreboard moving along. There are considerations, but realistically, if anyone is scoring runs in Shield cricket, it's probably a good sign they can do it at the next level,” Cummins said.