Justin Langer suggests batting position change for Steve Smith

Former Australia head coach Justin Langer believes that Steve Smith should return to his usual number four position in the batting order for the upcoming Test series against India. This comes after Smith's recent stint as an opener, which hasn't gone as well as expected.

Smith, who took on the opening role after David Warner's retirement, has had mixed results. Although he scored a 91 against West Indies in the second Test at Gabba, his overall average as an opener is just 28.50. This is significantly lower than his impressive career average of 56.97 in Test cricket.

Langer, speaking on a podcast, acknowledged Smith's adaptability but suggested that he is best suited to bat at number four. According to Langer, having Smith in the middle order would not only benefit Australia but also create psychological pressure on the opposition.

“He’s the greatest player we’ve had. Great players adapt, they can bat anywhere in the order. For the Australian cricket team, I think he’s best suited to bat number four,” Langer said.

Langer also pointed out that the decision to have Smith open was likely influenced by the team's desire to include young all-rounder Cameron Green in the playing XI. With Mitchell Marsh already in the side as an all-rounder, the team management wanted to find a way to fit Green into the squad, which led to Smith moving up the order.

“I think it’s a really specialised position (number four). It’s not that he can’t do it (open the batting). I’d love to see him bat at No.4, but then they have to work out who doesn’t play. My observation was that it was more about trying to get Cameron Green in and Mitch Marsh had taken that (all-rounders’) role, but they wanted to get the best young player into the XI,” he added.

Smith's opening partner, Usman Khawaja, also agrees that Smith should return to the number four spot. As Australia prepares for the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, the team management is considering various strategies. Captain Pat Cummins has indicated that he supports including both Green and Marsh in the team, which might mean Smith continues to open. However, Langer's suggestion adds to the ongoing debate about the best batting order for the team.