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Former Australian cricketer Simon Katich believes the decision to promote Steve Smith up the order and recall Cameron Green to the playing 11 was the 'right call'.
Cricket Australia has announced its squad for the upcoming test series against the West Indies, featuring a major shake-up in the middle order.
Selectors have confirmed the WA all-rounder will return to the starting 11, with Queensland opener Matt Renshaw recalled to the squad.
Smith will take David Warner's place and partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, while Green will come in at four.
Katich told Sports Breakfast that expects the biggest challenge for Smith as an opener is his change in mindset.
“If Australia win the toss or when the innings closes, if they fielded first, you're going straight out there so you don't get a break and sit around and wait,” said Katich
“Having seen Steve Smith the last few years…when the West Indies were out and the top three were doing such a big job, him sitting around to wait sometimes was detrimental to how he went.
“He's been at his best when he's been in earlier and he's been able to control the innings and have that for long periods of time. So, he hasn't probably had the best of summers, but he's had starts in every innings he's played. He just hasn't converted.
“Given how good he's been for Australia over this last decade, I've got no doubt that he can come up to the challenge and do a good job. And if that allows Cameron Green into the team, then, you know, confident that that's the right option.”
Australian selectors stated they have gone with the approach of selecting the best six batsmen in the country for the playing 11.
WA opener Cameron Bancroft went unselected despite putting over 500 runs on the board in Sheffield Shield.
Other opening options thrown around include Victoria’s Marcus Harris and Queensland’s Matt Renshaw – both players averaging 31 runs apiece. Both players have spent time around the Australian squad in the past few years, while Bancroft has not played for Australia since 2019’s Ashes series in England.
Katich believes, despite not being a specialist opener, Green is still the 'far superior player' option
“I know he's not a specialist opener, but if he does bat at four, that's where he's played his best cricket for WA," he said.
“He's averaged 64 there, and I think higher up in the order suits him, rather than batting down at six, which can be a tricky spot at times because you get caught batting with the tail.”
With Bancroft going unselected, discussion around the Shield’s role in national selection has been generated.
When asked where Shield Cricket sits regarding the selection process, Katich believes it isn’t being disregarded.
“Green has outperformed those guys when he was playing in the Shield over the last few years. Just that in the last twelve months he hasn't played as much because he's been in the Australian setup,” he said.
“His first-class numbers are just over 46 and we haven't had a lot of young batsmen average in the high even 50 in the last decade. There's only really been Cameron Green and Will Pucovski. That's the reason they've played for Australia because they've stood head and shoulders above any of the others going around the states.
“Bancroft's done everything right. He's made runs and done beautifully for WA, but I guess the big question is if they felt he was ready to come back in. I think they would have picked one of them in the last twelve months because of David Warner's sort of mixed form.”
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