Gilchrist Advocates for Smith as Opener for Australia in Champions Trophy
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Synopsis
Adam Gilchrist suggests that Steve Smith should open the batting for Australia in the upcoming Champions Trophy to maximize his batting opportunities, especially given the team's limited preparation and injuries to key players.
Key Takeaways
- Adam Gilchrist advocates for Steve Smith to open the batting.
- Smith's role aims to increase his batting opportunities.
- The Australian team is missing key players due to injuries.
- Limited preparation could hinder Australia’s performance.
- Young players may get a chance to prove themselves.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (NationPress) Legendary Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist stated that interim captain Steve Smith should be positioned as an opener in the ODI lineup for the upcoming Champions Trophy, highlighting it as a method to maximize the number of deliveries he can encounter during the matches in Pakistan.
During Australia's significant 2-0 ODI series defeat in Sri Lanka, Smith scored 12 and 29 as a middle-order batsman. However, with young Jake Fraser-McGurk struggling with form, Gilchrist believes that Smith must take the opening slot, although he considers Matt Short an intriguing option to partner with Travis Head at the top of the order.
“It's a tough situation right now, but Steve Smith should definitely open. I wasn’t sure about his position in the game against Sri Lanka. Obviously, Travis will be there – he's fit and ready. I also think Matt Short would be a great addition – he could create a strong left-hand-right-hand combination, which is my preferred approach,” said Gilchrist.
“However, I believe Steve Smith can open the batting – we’ve seen him excel in T20 cricket. While he might be too crucial for the middle-order, I can't see why you wouldn’t want him to face as many balls as possible in a 50-over match. Getting him up there could be a very effective strategy,” Gilchrist remarked on ABC Summer Grandstand show on Saturday.
Australia, the reigning ODI World Cup champions, will head into the Champions Trophy without their top pacers Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, in addition to Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh being sidelined due to injuries.
As Australia prepares to compete against England, Afghanistan, and South Africa in their league stage matches of the Champions Trophy, Gilchrist is concerned that the team might face challenges in Pakistan due to their limited preparation.
“I believe the preparation has been limited for this format. The Australian team performed remarkably during the extensive summer – in both men’s and women’s cricket. However, many nations prioritize 50-over cricket during a World Cup year, particularly regarding the volume of matches and player participation,” he explained.
“The next ODI World Cup is set for 2027, so this is a chance to test new players and provide younger talent with opportunities. This approach may yield mixed outcomes – once you enter a tournament, it becomes all about tournament play and finding a way to advance to the next round,” he added.
“That’s what Australia excels at – they manage to scrape through tough situations, but it will be a challenge in those conditions. They’re not fielding their ideal roster, which could make this tournament particularly difficult for them,” he concluded.
