Former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes Steve Smith can make the highest Test score in the history of the game if he is promoted up the batting order to replace David Warner.
Smith is among a group of five contenders to fill the vacant opener’s role after Warner bowed out of the red-ball game last week in Sydney.
Selectors will on Wednesday announce the squad to take on the West Indies in the upcoming two-Test series, and all eyes will be on who is chosen to succeed Warner in the spot he had held for 112 Tests.
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It’s understood George Bailey and his selection panel are desperate to get generationally talented allrounder Cam Green back into the XI, having lost his spot during last year’s Ashes to fellow allrounder Mitch Marsh, whose century at Headingley began a rejuvenated run of form that has made him impossible to drop.
Specialist openers Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris are the other players being considered to come into the squad.
Green could come into the team as a straight swap for Warner at the top of the order, but Smith has in recent weeks emerged as a late bolter to take his longtime teammate’s former position, in which case Green would come in to replace Smith at No.4.
Smith himself has put his hand up to take the position, admitting as much when speaking to media after Australia’s win over Pakistan in Sydney.
If that happens, Clarke believes the 34-year-old Smith — who has batted everywhere in the order from No.3 to No.8, but never at the top — will quickly become the game’s best opener.
“I tell you now about Steve Smith; if he wants to open the batting and they give him the chance, he will be the No.1 Test opener within 12 months,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.
“If you can bat at No.3, you can bat anywhere in the order. Technically, he is good enough; he lets the ball go well, he’s got a great eye, he’s got beautiful hands.
“He’s that good a player — and it might be that challenge that he is looking for.”
Clarke, who played with Smith between 2010-2015 and handed the captaincy over to him, went a step further, saying his former teammate could even make the highest Test score for a single innings in the history of the game.
“If he opens the batting, he will be the best opener within 12 months and don’t be surprised if he breaks Brian Lara’s 400 (runs) record because he is that good,” Clarke added.
Clarke believes Smith would relish the chance to have more time at the crease to bat because, simply, “Smithy loves batting”.
“He’d rather face every ball than give a few balls to somebody else,” Clarke continued.
“Technically, he’s sound. He could open the batting there’s no doubt about it. He could adjust, he could find a way.
“If he wants to do it then I think they will allow him to do it. Listening to (captain) Patty Cummins’ quotes, I think it’s a simple swap. I think Cameron Green is going to come in to open the batting for David Warner unless someone like Steve Smith wants to do it.”
Australia’s first Test against West Indies starts in Adelaide on January 17, live and free on Channel 7.