Australia Star Steve Smith Breaks Silence On Decision To Bat At No. 4 Again, Says "I Didn't..."

21.10.2024 - 12:57 sports.ndtv.com

Australia batter Steve Smith said that Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne "hated" him at the top order and wanted him to return back to his original batting position - No.

4 - but he is happy to bat wherever the team wants him to. Australia head coach Andrew McDonald confirmed last week that he and captain Pat Cummins have decided to shift Smith back to No.

4 batting spot in Test cricket following a brief stint at the opening role. Smith stated that he was asked by McDonald to tell his preferred batting position to which he replied 'four' but he never requested the management to put him back in the middle order. "I got asked where I'd prefer to bat, and I said four.

I didn't ask (to move) though. I also said I'm happy batting wherever. I'm not really too fussed. I got asked where my preference would be, and I said four.

cricket Australia Cricket Team Pat Cummins Cameron Green Steve Smith Andrew Macdonald Steven Smith Marnus Labuschagne Usman Khawaja Australia New Zealand India county Smith

Australia on Monday left out their Test stars for the home T20 series against Pakistan, with a new captain set to be named. The three-match T20 series next month will conclude only four days before Australia embark on the first of a five home Tests against India. Selectors rested fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, along with other Test players Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. All-rounder Cameron Green is injured and will miss the entire Australian summer.

World Test Championship Scenario For All Teams: How India, Australia, Others Can Qualify For Final

Things are getting tight at the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings with just 15 per cent separating the top two teams, India and Australia and the chance of them repeating the 2023 title clash remains a distinct possibility. Sri Lanka, South Africa and New Zealand remain in contention of claiming a coveted top two spot in the standings and a place at next year's one-off Test at Lord's.

Skipper Marsh and test regulars to skip Pakistan T20 series

SYDNEY : Australia's Twenty20 captain Mitchell Marsh and his test teammates will skip the three matches against Pakistan in November as they prepare for the blockbuster series against India in the longest format of the game.

"I'd Look To Secure...": IPL Winning Coach Picks Sunrisers Hyderabad's Retentions Ahead Of 2025 Auction

Former Australia cricketer Tom Moody picked Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins, openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen as front-runners to be retained by the franchise ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Moody, who has coached SRH in two different stints between 2013 to 2022, backed the core players of the franchise to be retained after finishing as runners-up of the 2024 season. Head, Abhishek and Klaasen were the top run-getters for the side in the memorable season and played a key role in their campaign to the final.

Australia Coach Calls Mohammed Shami's Absence "Big Loss" For India In Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has acknowledged that Mohammed Shami's absence is a big loss for India, but added his team won't take the pacers who replace him lightly during the all-important Border-Gavaskar Trophy series starting on November 22 in Perth, citing the Gabba Test win of the visitors' in 2021. Shami has been out of action since last year's ODI World Cup in India due to an achilles injury which needed surgery this year. But there's a possibility that Shami might join the Indian team for the second half of the Australia tour provided he proves his fitness and readiness in Bengal's last two Ranji Trophy matches at Bengaluru and Indore respectively.

Pat Cummins Fires 'Bushy Pitches' Warning To India Ahead Of Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Says "If I Had My Way..."

Team India will embark on a five-Test tour of Australia next month, with the series likely to determing their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year at Lord's. India have won each of their last two Test tours of Australia, and the Rohit Sharma-led side will look to make it three on the trot against Pat Cummins and his men. Cummins has enjoyed unmatched success as captain of Australia's Test side, but his team lost the series on their recent trip to India last year. It has been nearly a decade since Australia last beat India home or away in a Test series.