‘The challenge he needs’: Shane Watson wants Steve Smith to replace David Warner as Test opener

Steve Smith has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace David Warner as Australia’s new Test opener, with former teammate Shane Watson backing the New South Welshman to excel at the top of the order.

Warner will retire from red-ball cricket following this week’s New Year’s Test against Pakistan, with Australia searching for a new opener ahead of this month’s Frank-Worrell Trophy against the West Indies.

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Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris and Matthew Renshaw, who each have prior Test experience, are the leading candidates to replace Warner at the top of the order, while talented all-rounder Cameron Green has also been touted as an option.

However, Watson believes that Smith has the makings of a Test opener, backing the Australian vice-captain to flourish against the new ball if given the opportunity. The 42-year-old, who retired from Test cricket following the 2015 Ashes, also suggested Smith might consider retiring if he isn’t stimulated by a fresh challenge.

“I like, knowing the person, the idea of Steve Smith opening,” Watson told journalists Gideon Haigh and Peter Lalor at a cricket event on the eve of the SCG Test.

“The reason why is that No. 3 is the perfect position for him. When he’s the man, he feels like he is the one who has to score the bulk of runs for his team, and when he was in his most prolific period, which was a long period of time, most of it was batting at No. 3.

“When he was at No. 3 … he was scoring runs for fun, but when he comes in at No. 4, often the work’s been done, and finding motivation is more challenging for him.

“Steve Smith opening the batting, he has got the technique, is the challenge he needs.

“My concern is that if Steve Smith isn’t given a challenge, he might shut things down earlier than he needs.”

Smith, who has only opened for Australia in the 20-over format, averages 67.07 when batting at No. 3 in Tests, notching eight centuries in 29 knocks.

Earlier this week, Australian captain Pat Cummins said he was comfortable with a non-traditional opener replacing Warner in the Test side.

“(Khawaja) wasn’t a specialist until it was basically the only spot available in the team and he forced his way in,” Cummins told reporters at the SCG on Tuesday.

“Ideally, you’ve got someone who has had experience opening, but I don’t think it’s a blanket rule.”

Australian coach Andrew McDonald also indicated he was open to a middle-order batter moving up the order, a change that worked wonders for modern greats Justin Langer and David Boon.

“In the past 30 years, I think there’s been 30-odd openers, and 50 per cent of them have come from a non-traditional opening background,” McDonald told ABC Grandstand.

“If that’s anything to go by, there is the potential to be able to rejig your order.

“That’s not to dismiss the value of a tried and tested opener who’s done it over a period of time. We’ll consider all those options and angles and work out what that looks like for us.”

Steve Smith Test batting average by position

No. 3 – 67.07

No. 4 – 61.70

No. 5 – 57.18

No. 6 – 25.00

No. 7 and lower – 36.83

Watson started his Test career in the middle order before reinventing himself as an opener during the 2009 Ashes, producing his best cricket in Australian whites at the top of the order.

The all-rounder, who won the 2013/14 Ashes alongside Smith, averaged 40.98 in Tests as an opener and 30.03 when batting at first drop or lower.

Watson also emphasised the importance of getting Green back into the Test side; the West Australian all-rounder has slipped out of the first-choice starting XI following Mitchell Marsh’s stunning resurgence since the last year’s Ashes Test at Headingley.

“Cameron Green, I think, is the best thing since sliced bread,” Watson continued.

“For a young guy coming in, the skills he’s got, the runs he has scored in Shield cricket, he just needs a bit more time and he will work it out for sure. He knows how to bowl, he got a Boxing Day five for and that doesn’t happen very often.”

“And then the fact he is an elite level fielder in the gully region. Possibly the best in the game.

“He has to find his way in. When Dave Warner retires, he has to find his way in.”