"Don't Really Like Waiting To Bat": Steve Smith On Playing As An Opener

Australian batter Steve Smith stated that the reason he moved to the opening spot following David Warner's retirement is simple, that he does not like to wait for his batting. Out of many incumbent players like Travis Head, the white-ball opener, Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, who has also opened in white-ball cricket, Smith put his hands up and offered to move to the very top of the batting line-up. This new look line-up will start its journey without Warner during the two-match Test series against West Indies from January 17 onwards at Adelaide.

The selectors decided to go ahead with Smith opening as this has reopened the number four spot for the batting all-rounder Cameron Green, who was sitting on the sidelines in favour of an in-form Marsh.

Smith has never opened in a Test or his first-class career of 16 years. But he is no stranger to the new, swinging ball doing its tricks. During the 2019 Ashes, Smith was often tested by the new and shining cherry and the longest he had to wait for his batting was till 23rd over at Lord's. He was batting at number four throughout the series, which saw him make 774 runs in four matches with three centuries and three fifties.

"Since I guess Marnus [Labuschagne] has been playing at number three, I have been waiting to bat for quite a long period of time and I do not really like waiting to bat," Smith told Fox Cricket while playing for Sydney Sixers as quoted by ESPNCricinfo on Friday.

"So I thought, why do not I put my hand up and have a crack up top and that way you can get Cameron Green in and you are playing your six best batters so hopefully it works out," he added.

Smith is excited to face the new ball and feels that his success in the 2019 Ashes is something he can