Steve Smith Denies Requesting Middle-Order Return as Australia Seeks Opening Partner for Khawaja

Steve Smith has dismissed reports suggesting he requested to return to the middle order as Cricket Australia continues its search for a new opening partner for Usman Khawaja. The speculation arose after Smith was promoted to the top of the order following David Warner’s retirement, with Cameron Green briefly filling Smith’s usual No. 4 position at the end of last summer.

With Green ruled out for the upcoming summer, Smith’s role in the batting order has become a topic of debate. Both Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne have expressed their preference for Smith to return to his favored middle-order position, rather than opening the batting.

Smith clarified that while he has had discussions with Australian captain Pat Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald about his batting position, he did not request to bat at No. 4.

“I said, ‘I’m happy to bat wherever you’d like me to bat, but four would be my ideal position,’” Smith said. “I’m not really too fussed—I got asked where I’d prefer to bat, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying I requested to bat at four—that wasn’t the case.”

Smith emphasized that he is flexible and willing to bat wherever McDonald decides. However, he acknowledged that Khawaja and Labuschagne were keen to see him move down from the opener’s spot.

“They hated me up top, to be honest,” Smith said, referring to conversations with Khawaja and Labuschagne. “They wanted me behind them; that was a big part of it.”

The pair, according to Smith, sought more “security” in the batting order, preferring the assurance of having a player of Smith’s caliber coming in behind them.

“Ask them about it, but they were pretty strong on me not batting as an opener,” Smith concluded.

As Australia approaches a new summer of cricket, the final decision on Smith’s role in the lineup remains uncertain, with the team continuing to search for a solution to fill the gap left by Warner’s departure.