Last Updated on 4 hours by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Graeme Smith believes Steve Smith is not the right replacement for David Warner
Former South Africa captain and opening batsman Graeme Smith believes Steve Smith is not the right replacement for David Warner as Australia Test opener. Australia opted to make the call following their 3-0 series win over Pakistan, where Warner went out as a winner in the eight-wicket win at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
Steve Smith has never opened in Test cricket, but those in the thinktank believe a move away from number four can revitalise him. Since the start of 2023 Ashes, Smith has scored 567 runs at an average of 37.8, representing a lean patch for the typically prolific batter.
Not sure if Steve Smith is the right replacement for David Warner – Graeme Smith
However, Graeme Smith has doubts over whether the move will work. In an interview with Betway, the SA20 commissioner pointed to Warner’s ability to put pressure on the bowlers as a trait Steve Smith will struggle to replicate.
“Those types of players [like Warner] are like an engine room in terms of energy and the intensity,” Smith said.
“Having played against David, he was always at the forefront with setting the tone in the field. He comes with an immense amount of experience, travelling around the world and knowing what it requires to be successful playing in other people’s backyards, which is not easy.
Warner was the guy that took the game on and was able to apply pressure onto opposition attacks from the word go. He took a lot of the limelight and, when you lose a player like that, the pressure shifts to other people. How that impacts the team is always interesting to watch.”
Graeme Smith went on to say he was surprised by Australia’s call to move a player who did so well at number four for so long. Also, he wonders whether Steve Smith can succeed regularly against the new ball.
“Steve Smith is clearly keen to open, but I’m surprised that Australia have opted to give him a crack against the West Indies later this month,” said Smith.
“He’s an incredible player, so you would expect that he’d be able to adapt, but I worry that the new ball will potentially expose him to too much.”
Australia’s two-match series against West Indies begins on January 17 at Adelaide Oval. West Indies have not won a Test in Australia since 1997. Also, the Australians have won 11 of their past 13 home Tests, with only India tasting success against them on Aussie soil since 2016 where South Africa won 2-1.
A big series for Steve Smith should set him up nicely for the challenges ahead. Following the West Indies series, Australia will embark on a tour of New Zealand where they will play two Tests.
Then, India tour later in 2024 for a blockbuster five-match series.
