Finding Australia's next opening batter is now a priority, as David Warner has now retired into the sunset. There is no doubt about it—Warner has held that position for thirteen years. It takes time to locate a substitute for him. The search has started since word leaked out of Warner's goodbye. Cameron Bancroft, the former captain of Australia's Test team, is the preferred choice for the position, although Michael Clarke has backed Steve Smith to move up the order and replace the opening in place of the great Ricky Ponting.
Furthermore, that isn't it. In addition to backing Smith to become the world's finest opener within a year of beginning to open the innings, Clarke, an Australian captain who won the World Cup in the past, believes that Smith can "smudge" the opener so much that he may threaten Brian Lara's 400-run record. Smith is 'very keen' to bat first and is attracted to the idea. In actuality, Marnus Labuschagne believes that "no one better out there." Although skipper Pat Cummins may not be too fond of the concept, Clarke is more than happy to have Smith and Usman Khawaja start at first base for Australia starting in the upcoming Test series.
"Smith doesn't want to wait. He doesn't want Warner or Khawaja to make a hundred, or Marnus to make a double hundred. He wants to make a double hundred. So if he open the batting, he will be the best opener within 12 months and the other thing, don't be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara's 400 record. Because he is that good and he's got the whole day," pointed out Clarke.
Nearly 6000 of Smith's 9500 Test run total have came at batting No. 4 at an average of 61.51. Smith has batted third eleven times and has scored 1744 runs at a batting average of 67.08. He has also had some success at that position. Smith has averaged at least 45 even at 5, 6, 7, and 8, so there's no reason he can't succeed as an opener given that he's excelled in most of the positions he's batted in. Whether he manages to surpass the legendary Lara's record, though, seems like a stretch at this time.
