Smith as Test opener? McDonald finds star at No.3 or No.4 'pretty appetising'

In a recent interview, Australia's cricket coach Andrew McDonald expressed his admiration for Steve Smith's willingness to become the new Test opener. However, he doesn't wish to disrupt the team's strength just to fill an empty position. This comes as Australia searches for a new opener following David Warner's retirement after their win in the SCG Test. Several names, including Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, and Cameron Green, have emerged, and Smith has also been considered as a surprising but capable candidate.

In a quote from the West Australian following their victory over Pakistan, McDonald stated they would consider all options and praised Smith's readiness to take on the role. However, he made it clear that they valued Smith in his No.3 or No.4 position and hinted they may not move him, so as not to disrupt the equilibrium of the team. Smith has previously opened batting for Australia in T20Is, but never in two other cricket formats. McDonald stressed the importance of maintaining a balance within the team, further emphasising his unwillingness to sacrifice the existing team's strength just to fill a position.