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'Great Players Adapt' - Justin Langer Opens Up On Steve Smith As Test Opener Experiment

Justin Langer on Steve Smith [X.com]Justin Langer on Steve Smith [X.com]

Former Australian coach Justin Langer has expressed his concerns about Steve Smith's recent promotion to opener, arguing that the team may be misusing one of its greatest assets.

 As Australia prepares for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Langer voiced his opinion on the Cricket et al  podcast, aligning himself with current opener Usman Khawaja and former legend Matthew Hayden, both of whom prefer Smith at No. 4.

Langer described Smith as “the greatest player we’ve had,” emphasizing that while great players can adapt to different positions, Smith’s optimal contribution comes from batting at No. 4. 

According to Langer, this position not only suits Smith’s style but also benefits the Australian team strategically.

“Great players adapt, they can bat anywhere in the order. For the Australian cricket team, I think he’s best suited to bat number four,” he added.

Steve Smith has been a pivotal figure in Australian cricket, having amassed 9,685 runs in 109 Test matches, including 32 centuries. His performance at No. 4 has been particularly remarkable, with 5,966 runs at an average of 61.51, including 22 centuries. 

Khawaja wanted Steve Smith to bat at No. 4

Khawaja echoed Langer’s sentiment, stating that while Smith is capable of scoring at any position, his proven track record at No. 4 makes it the ideal spot for him.

“I know Steve Smith can score runs at one, two, three, four, five or six, but the man averages 60 at four, so my preference has always been Smudge [Smith] at four,” Khawaja said during a recent Cricket Australia content capture day," he said.

The debate over Smith’s batting order comes as Australia gears up for a challenging five-match Test series against India, starting on November 22 at Optus Stadium.