Steve Smith is still Australia’s best batter but at No. 4, not opening: Ian Chappell

Steve Smith. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Ian Chappell reckoned that the Australian top order could be in a lot of trouble if it comes up against a quality pace-bowling attack like that of India. Rohit Sharma and Co. are set to travel Down Under to face Australia in a five-match Test series at the end of the year.

Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh have done well with the bat for the World Test Champions. After Steve Smith moved to the top following David Warner’s retirement from the longest format of the game in January, the pressure has fallen on the likes of Head and Marsh to headline the Aussie middle order. Both players like to play an attacking brand of cricket but Chappell feels that it might not work against the star bowling trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.

“The reason both Marsh and Head vigorously attack the opposition is because their aggression covers up their technical failings. Their aggression has worked against the lesser sides, but will it succeed against strong sides like India? If Marsh and Head have to try and dig Australia out of trouble against Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, that will be a concern. Rest assured a vulnerable Australian top order will find itself in trouble if that Indian trio is fit and firing,” wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNcricinfo.

Chappell heaped praise on Australia’s bowling attack but wasn’t too confident of Australia’s batting department, especially after Warner’s retirement.

“Australia’s bowling, which features a settled and successful top four, is a major plus, but the batting is a concern for the current World Test champions. They are missing the ebullient David Warner’s ability to harass opponents with his aggression as an opener,” added Chappell.

Like all players, Steve Smith is vulnerable against the new ball: Ian Chappell

Warner retired after playing the three-match series against Pakistan, which Australia won 3-0. Since then, the Aussies have drawn a series at home against the West Indies and defeated New Zealand 2-0 in an away tour. However, Smith has played eight innings and scored just 171 runs, 91 of them coming in the second innings of the second Test against West Indies.

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Like most batters, 80-year-old Chappell noted that Smith has problems against the new ball. The former cricketer also said that by pushing Smith to open, the middle order has been packed with too many aggressive players and as a result, it has dented the balance of the side.

“Smith is still Australia’s best batter but at No. 4, not opening. Smith, like all players, is more vulnerable against the new ball. He’ll occasionally succeed because he’s a very good player, but he’s unlikely to produce the consistently high scores he did in his heyday in the middle,” said Chappell.

“By promoting Steven Smith to open so they could include two allrounders, they are now left with a query at the top and an overabundance of aggression in the middle order. The preference is to have a strong top six, but it’s ideal when that batting order is balanced,” he added.

Smith has an incredible record at No. 4. In 111 innings, he has smashed 19 centuries and averages a staggering 61.50. The right-handed batter has 9,685 runs in Test cricket and is fourth on the list of leading run-getters for Australia in the format.