Steve Smith not to open in BGT 2024-25, set to move to middle order

Australia is hard at work preparing for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The side will kick off the marquee series by taking on team India in the first Test of the series in Perth from November 22. Ahead of the series, there could be some changes made to the team composition and line-up.

One of the more noticeable ones is the star batter Steve Smith moving down the order to bat instead of opening the innings. Ahead of the series, Cricket Australia’s chair of selectors, George Bailey, came forward and confirmed that Smith will be moving back down the middle order. 

Bailey also revealed that the development was pretty much confirmed even before Cameron Green’s summer ending back injury occurred and Smith had a conversation with skipper Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald to ensure his move back to the middle order. 

"Pat, Andrew and Steven Smith had been having ongoing conversations separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway, and I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position. Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer. So, yeah, clearly we've got a No. 4 spot to fill and an opening spot to fill,” Bailey was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. 

Also Read: Cameron Green to undergo surgery to address a stress fracture of the lumbar spine

Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like: Bailey

It is worth noting that George Bailey did not confirm that Smith would bat at number four against India in the Perth Test, but was sure to state that skipper Pat Cummins and Andrew McDonald would be the ones to decide the batting order. He also stated that the batting order is not currently set in stone and is subject to change anytime.

"Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like. But I guess once you do get moving parts, a lot of those conversations become null and void,” Bailey said.