A little surprised, but will do whatever has to be done for the team: Smith
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khaskhabar.com : Thursday, October 26, 2023 2:42 PM
New Delhi. Australia’s leading batsman Steve Smith admitted he was a bit of a shock when he was told he would need to bat lower down the order to accommodate the possible return of left-handed opening batsman Travis Head to the team. Australia’s next World Cup match will be against New Zealand on Saturday in Dharamsala.
On Wednesday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Smith scored 71 off 68 balls as the number three batsman in Australia’s mammoth 309-run win against the Netherlands, totaling 399-8. But if Head returns to open the batting with David Warner and Mitchell Marsh at number three, Smith may have to drop one place down Australia’s batting order to number four.
“I think it’s a different kind of mentality when you come from three to four,” Smith was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. “So yes, if Trav had been playing I would have been told I should be at four. Have to bat at number one. I will do whatever the team wants. I have done that. My record at number three is quite good, so I was a bit surprised in a way, but I will do whatever I have to do for the team.”
Although he expressed surprise at the reshuffle in his batting position at the World Cup, Smith was pleased with his rising form in the competition as Australia have now won three – against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Netherlands – and two against India and South Africa. After starting their campaign with a defeat.
“You want to try to bring everything together and play as consistently as possible towards the back-end (of the tournament). From a batsman’s point of view, you can score in one-day cricket.”
He further added, “I’ve done it before in 2015 (World Cup, with five consecutive 50+ scores), I’ve done it a little bit in 2019 (World Cup, with three 50+ scores in four innings), and Once you get that rhythm and in that kind of zone of play, the way you want to play – I think Davey (Warner) is in a similar patch at the moment – you get some scores on the bounce. Can do, and obviously when your top order is scoring well, you have established yourself well.”
–IANS
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Web Title-A little surprised, but will do whatever has to be done for the team: Smith
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