Steve Smith’s Test batting position worries Matthew Hayden as India threat looms

‘Why fix something that is not broken’- a quote often used in cricket for various contexts seems to come to life in Steve Smith’s case.

A Test veteran averaging beyond 60 batting at number four opened for Australia in the last eight innings. With the India Test series looming, the former batting great Matthew Hayden expressed displeasure over this decision, preferring to watch Smith return to his favourite position in the marquee series.

Speaking on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai, Hayden said he understands George Bailey’s (chief selector) comments on why they preferred Smith over specialists Cameron Bancroft and Matthew Renshaw.

While Smith’s highest score batting at the top is 91, his total tally reads 171 runs from eight outings, and Hayden, who opened in Tests all his life, admitted it’s never easy to adapt against the new ball, even for the best of batters.

"The rationale that [national selector] George Bailey gave was correct in so far as that he was choosing his best top six batsmen," Hayden said.

"Now, you can't argue with Steven Smith, he is averaging 65 [57] in Test-match cricket.... 32 Test-match hundreds.

"But, the role of an opening batsman compared to a middle-order batsman is very different. And it didn't take long to discover that when you get into challenging conditions like they faced in the first series outside of Australia, which was in New Zealand, that opening the batting is very difficult," the former batting legend added.

‘Not the right message to send’

Hayden admitted not liking this idea in the first place and adding this doesn’t set a correct example for domestic players either.

"I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn't like changing," Hayden added."I think it's crazy to think that you have the world's best-in-class batter in a certain position. And then you change to a completely different position. For a few reasons, I think that's crazy. Firstly, why? Such a gun in that position, such a coveted player.

"And then it also is not a great nod to the first-class set-up, which is very much in the Australian culture, been driving great results towards key roles, be that any one of the roles - wicketkeeping, batting, spinners, fast bowlers, opening batters. So the [batting positions of] one, two and three is a category, which needs to be protected, in my opinion. It sets up play."

Hayden didn’t mince his words in admitting how massive a void David Warner’s absence has left and if Smith, in any capacity, could fill it.

"For the first time, it doesn't feel as secure. David Warner gave a great service to Australian cricket. He gave a service that was extremely competitive and wonderfully dynamic.

"He really took that legacy that I'd created through the 2000s to a new level, strike rates in excess of 80 [70] and gave great momentum to the top order, which otherwise is quite a conservative, very good, but very conservative batting line-up. So I think he's an enormous loss in terms of how do you replace him,” Hayden continued.

(With inputs from agencies)