Watson Backs Smith as Opener for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Shane Watson, the former Australian Test opener, has expressed his belief that Steven Smith should retain his position as the opener for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. Smith had taken on the opening role following the retirement of David Warner, and despite some inconsistent performances, Watson feels that Smith has the skill set necessary to succeed at the top of the order.

Watson acknowledged that while Smith's statistics as an opener – 171 runs at an average of 28.50 over four Tests – may not be impressive, these figures don't reflect his potential. Watson attributes Smith's recent struggles more to technical issues rather than the challenges of the opening position itself. He is optimistic that with some adjustments to his technique, Smith can perform effectively as an opener.

Additionally, the conversation surrounding Australia's opening position is complicated by the injury concerns surrounding Cameron Green. Green, who has shown impressive form, particularly highlighted by his recent match-winning innings of 174 not out against New Zealand, is an ideal candidate for the No. 4 spot should he recover in time from a lower back injury.

Watson also criticised the decision to hold the first Test of the series in Perth instead of Brisbane, which has traditionally been the start of the Australian Test summer. He underscored the historical significance of the Gabba as a challenging venue for touring teams, which adds an extra layer of difficulty to their experience in Australian conditions.

As the series against India approaches, these discussions about player roles and venue choices continue to develop, highlighting the complexities of team selection and strategy in the lead-up to a high-stakes international series.