Steve Smith will bat at No.4 against India, confirms George Bailey

In a major development, Australia’s national selection chair George Bailey has confirmed that Steve Smith will bat at No.4 in the forthcoming five-Test series against India, putting end to speculation about the 35-year-old’s batting position.

Bailey told reporters that Smith, captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald had conversations ‘separate to the untimely injury to Cameron Green’ and came to the conclusion that he will be moving back down the order.

"Pat, Andrew and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green)," Bailey was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

"Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer."

Despite averaging 61.50 batting at No.4, Smith willingly volunteered to open the batting after the retirement of David Warner. He struck an unbeaten 91 in the fourth innings in just his second Test as an opener, but the right-hander endured a poor series away in New Zealand, where he registered scores of 31, 0, 11 & 9. 

Smith moving down the order means Australia will likely pick a specialist opener to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

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