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No Steve Smith vs Jasprit Bumrah as Captain Pat Cummins Demotes Australia Great for India Series

In a major change for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia has announced that Steve Smith would not bat first, removing the expected encounter with Jasprit Bumrah using the new ball. This decision was made just before the start of the five-match Test series against India on November 22.

Smith asked for a change in his batting position, which was granted by captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald, according to a Monday announcement from former Australia captain and current chairman of selectors George Bailey. Bailey told reporters about the Australia ODI team for the Pakistan series and the Australia A team for the shadow series against India A. “Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position, and Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he will be dropping back down the order for the summer,” Bailey said.

Smith filled in as the opening batsman for a while after David Warner retired from red-ball cricket. He only managed 171 runs at an average of 28.50 in eight innings, with a high of 91 not out, but his performance in that role fell short of expectations.

Although Smith’s return to the No. 4 position was not formally confirmed by Bailey, there are signs that it is likely. He said, “Part of those discussions have been had and what it might look like,” but he also admits that there is unpredictability when team dynamics change.

Australia has a selection dilemma about their batting order since all-rounder Cameron Green will miss the whole Border-Gavaskar Trophy owing to injury. Bailey hinted at potential other lineups by emphasizing that the squad had previously performed well without a specialist all-rounder.

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Who Will Be Australia’s Opening? Smith’s return to No. 4 emphasizes Usman Khawaja’s partner at the top of the order. Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Bancroft, and up-and-coming player Sam Konstas—who garnered attention with two hundred in the Sheffield Shield—are among the contenders.

Australia’s roster for two red-ball matches against India next month includes Harris, Bancroft, and Konstas. The final selection will be decided closer to the Test series, Bailey said. “We have another three-and-a-half to four weeks until that Test squad is announced, and who is in it and in what order,” he said.