At the end of day\u2019s three play in the Sydney Test against Pakistan, Smith had said to ABC Grandstand that he was keen to be the next Test opener after David Warner\u2019s retirement from the format.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe averages 58 at five, 61 at four and 67 at three, so it seems like the higher he goes the more he averages. I\u2019ve got no doubt if that\u2019s the way we went, he would do very well. He really wants it, he wants that motivation\u2026 waiting to bat is not his forte, he wants to get out there straight away,\u201d said Labuschagne, who made 62 not out, to SEN Radio after Australia beat Pakistan by eight wickets to win the series 3-0.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Asked whether he would consider the role himself, Labuschagne said though the team needs are his top priority, he\u2019s happy with batting at number three. \u201cI\u2019m happy to do what the team needs, but I do love batting at three, I love the variety of the role.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAt the moment it could be anyone\u2026 I\u2019ve seen the media throwing around Travis Head, throwing around me, obviously the three openers outside of the squad, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris. Smudge (Steve Smith) seems like the lead frontrunner, the one that really wants it.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smith is the latest name to enter the discussion in opening the batting for Australia in Tests, with Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw being potential candidates to take Warner\u2019s role. Kerry O\u2019Keeffe, the former Australia cricketer, does not believe that Smith will be able to open the batting in Tests.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know whether it was a throwaway line or not. Steve Smith turns 35 in June, I don\u2019t know at this late stage in his career, he\u2019s in the twilight. He\u2019s still playing pretty well, but to go from four to one, I don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere seems to be a strong push to get Cameron Green somehow into that top six and that is a way of getting him there if Smith opens and Cameron Green comes in at four. The alternative is that Cameron Green opens.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cIf you can\u2019t fit Green in there, then you go back to Renshaw, Harris and Bancroft. There\u2019s a lot of jigsaw pieces that have to fit. I don\u2019t see Steve Smith as legitimately being a factor,\u201d he said on Fox Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australian\u2019s next Test assignment will be a two-match Test series against West Indies, with the first game beginning in Adelaide on January 17. Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting felt Smith opening the batting would disrupt Australia\u2019s batting line-up and sees Cameron Bancroft as the next Test opener.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t like to see him move from his number four position, to be honest. All this conversation is all about is how do we possibly get Cameron Green back into the side. And if they\u2019re going to do it, as far as I\u2019m concerned it has to be with the least disruption to the batting order as it is.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSmith and Labuschagne have been magnificent at three and four, they\u2019ve been the backbone of Australia\u2019s batting for the last three or four years since Labuschagne came into the team, and I wouldn\u2019t like to see that disrupted, to be honest. Let\u2019s wait and see \u2026 I\u2019m putting my hand up, I said it a few weeks ago I think it should be Cameron Bancroft the man to get that chance,\u201d Ponting said on Channel 7.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Similar views were echoed by former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Ian Smith. \u201cHe is just a great player and I think he deserves to go out on his own terms. But if it didn\u2019t work for him at the top of the order, that is my only runner here. If it didn\u2019t work for him \u2014 say he failed four or five times in a row at the top of the order, badly \u2014 what then?\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cDo you drop him back to No.4 and say, \u2018That\u2019s okay. We tried it with you.\u2019 And then get someone else in. To be perfectly honest, playing against the West Indies, it is not a bad time to bring someone new in. We are not talking about the fiercest bowling attack in the world to get started on. But if Steve Smith wants to do it, I\u2019m not going to point at him and say, \u2018No pal\u2019,\u201d he said on Fox Cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n", "image": "https:\/\/img.cricketnmore.com\/uploads\/2024\/01\/he-really-wants-it-he-wants-that-motivation-says-labuschagne-on-smiths-desire-to-open-the-batting-in-tests.webp", "alt_img": "He really wants it, he wants that motivation, says Labuschagne on Smith\u2019s desire to open the batting", "alt_title": "World Test Championship: Australia veteran Steve Smith backs self to regain glorious touch", "image1": null, "video": null, "seo_title": "He Really Wants It, He Wants That Motivation, Says Labuschagne On Smith\u2019s Desire To Open The Batting In Tests On Cricketnmore", "seo_desc": "He Really Wants It, He Wants That Motivation, Says Labuschagne On Smith\u2019s Desire To Open The Batting In Tests, Marnus Labuschagne: Australia\u2019s top-order batter Marnus Labuschagne has said his team-mate Steven Smith is eager to be the opener for.", "seo_keywords": "Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Sydney Test, ABC Grandstand, David Warner, SEN Radio, Travis Head, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Fox Cricket, West Indies, Former Australian, Ricky Ponting, New Zealand, Ian", "tag": "", "tagging": "Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Sydney Test, ABC Grandstand, David Warner, SEN Radio, Travis Head, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Fox Cricket, West Indies, Former Australian, Ricky Ponting, New Zealand", "status": "1", "img_rpt": "0", "google": "1", "standout": "0", "edapps": "0", "pulse": "0", "no_index": "0", "feed": "0", "fixture": null, "slug": "he-really-wants-it-he-wants-that-motivation-says-labuschagne-on-smiths-desire-to-open-the-batting-in-tests", "user_id": "0", "read_count": "0", "ians_date": null, "ians_time": null, "server_time": null, "trash": "0", "view_count": "674", "page_break": "0", "instant_articles": "1", "auto_link": "1", "created": "2024-01-06 16:12:05", "updated": "2024-01-06 16:12:05", "img_from": "Image Source: IANS", "img_source": null, "schedule_publish": null, "news_keywords": "Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Sydney Test, ABC Grandstand, David Warner, SEN Radio, Travis Head, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Fox Cricket, West Indies, Former Australian, Ricky Ponting, New Zealand, Ian", "livescore_text": null, "livescore_link": null, "btn_text": null, "resend_feed": "1", "google_feed": "1", "read_more": "0", "posted_by": "23", "jio_date": "2024-01-06 16:12:05", "scheduled": "0", "news_now": "1", "breaking_news": "1", "google_date": null, "featured": "0", "pred_match_id": null, "article_content_type": null, "england_cricket": "0", "link": "https:\/\/www.cricketnmore.com\/cricket-news\/he-really-wants-it-he-wants-that-motivation-says-labuschagne-on-smiths-desire-to-open-the-batting-in-tests-135514" }