Steve Smith to return to No 4 spot for India Test series; Green ruled out

MELLBOURNE, Oct 14: Veteran Australia batter Steve Smith will return to his favoured number four position after a short stint as an opener in the upcoming Test series against India, national selector George Bailey confirmed on Monday.
Post opener David Warner’s retirement earlier this year, Smith had willingly volunteered open the innings.
Although he made an unbeaten 91 in only his second Test in the new role, the 35-year-old didn’t fare well in the series against New Zealand, collecting a total of 51 runs in four innings.
Bailey confirmed that captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald have decided to bring back Smith to his preferred slot.
“Pat (Cummins), Andrew (McDonald)and Steve Smith had been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron (Green),” Bailey was quoted as saying by ‘cricket.com.au’.
The opportunity to revert back to his old position arose after all-rounder Cameron Green, who had filled Smith’s role at No.4, opted to undergo a lower back surgery which will keep him out for six months.
“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.” Australia will host India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, starting on November 22 in Perth.
GREEN OUT
Australia all-rounder Cameron Green will undergo a surgery for a stress fracture in his lower spine which will rule him out for six months, including the marquee Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.
The 25-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back after experiencing pain during last month’s tour of the UK.
Green has previously suffered four stress fractures in his back but has not encountered any issues in that area since 2019.
While stress fractures are common among fast bowlers, Cricket Australia said Green has a “unique defect”.
“Whilst spine stress fractures are not unusual in pace bowlers, Cam has a unique defect in an adjacent area to the fracture that is believed to be contributing to the injury,” a CA statement said on Monday. (PTI)