Australian opener Usman Khawaja has voiced his opinion on Steve Smith’s batting position in the Test team. Following David Warner’s retirement, Smith was promoted to the top of the order, a move that has not been universally embraced. Smith’s performance as an opener in Tests has been inconsistent, raising questions ahead of the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy later this year. The reconfiguration of the batting lineup has allowed Australia to field their six best batters, with Cameron Green stepping into Smith’s previous role at No. 4.

Despite Smith’s willingness to bat anywhere in the order, Khawaja insists that the former captain should return to the No. 4 position.

“He’ll just probably never say it. So I’ll say it for him. Opening is a very important spot … (but) I still think we have the best Test player of my era in the side, in Steve Smith, and his best spot has been number four. I feel like that’s his best spot. I feel like the best balance for our team is (Marnus) Labuschagne three, Smith four,” Khawaja said as quoted by Fox Cricket.

Khawaja highlighted a noticeable decline in Australia’s scores since the lineup change.

In the eight innings following Warner’s retirement, Australia has surpassed the 300-run mark only once.

“For me, the number one consideration is ‘what’s best for the team?’. What order scores us the most runs? And if you look at how many runs we scored with Davey Warner in the team and Smudge batting at four, we scored a lot of runs. With Smudge opening, we’ve still won games, but I don’t think we’ve scored as many runs as we could’ve,” Khawaja added.

Smith’s individual performance as an opener has also been underwhelming, with just one fifty in eight innings and an average of 28.50, compared to his impressive average of 61.51 at No. 4.

The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth.

The second Test, scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval, will feature the exciting day-night format under the stadium’s lights. After that, fans will turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test, which will be held from December 14 to 18.

The customary Boxing Day Test, set for December 26 to 30 at Melbourne’s storied Melbourne Cricket Ground, will bring the series to its penultimate stage.

The fifth and final Test, taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7, will serve as the series climax, promising a dramatic conclusion to an exciting contest.

An unprecedented suspension might be coming the way of Australia cricketer Marnus Labuschagne, after he was involved in a heated altercation with an umpire in a T20 game in Australia on Wednesday. The 30-year-old batter, playing in the T20 Max tournament, lost his cool and was visibly frustrated at a decision made by the umpire during the game. His aggressive behaviour towards the umpire led to him being charged with umpire dissent after the game, but he could end up having to serve a ban.

In a match between Redlands and Valleys in the T20 Max tournament, Redlands captain Labuschagne had protested a decision by an umpire to rule Valleys batter Hugh Weibgen not out, calling it a bump ball. However, Labuschagne, convinced that it was a fair catch, had adamantly argued.

The 2023 World Cup winner continued arguing even after the next ball, prompting the umpires to instruct him to walk away.

Later, the umpires could be spotted gathering in the middle of the pitch, with the commentators speculating that it was a discussion regarding Labuschagne’s conduct.

Having been charged with level 2 umpire dissent, Labuschagne will have to attend a tribunal hearing where he could be handed a ban.

How will a ban impact Labuschagne?

A ban for South Africa-born Labuschagne will likely not impact his participation for Australia in the upcoming limited-overs tour of England. Labuschagne has been picked for the five-match ODI series, starting from September 19 at Trent Bridge.

However, with Queensland having named Labuschagne their captain for the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield season, a suspension for him in domestic cricket could hurt them.

Labuschagne – who was unbeaten at the crease as Australia beat India in the 2023 World Cup Final – has an average of 37.63 in ODI cricket, while his Test average is almost 50.

Star batter Marnus Labuschagne reckons fast bowlers make India a “difficult” side to beat in Australian conditions. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Star batter Marnus Labuschagne reckons fast bowlers make India a “difficult” side to beat in Australian conditions as the hosts look to end their barren run in Border-Gavaskar Trophy which has lasted nearly a decade.

India has won every bilateral Test series against Australia since losing 1-2 in an away affair in 2014-15. They have recorded identical 2-1 series wins in 2018-19 and 2020-21 Down Under to remain on top.

“India’s fast bowling is very good, which is really what brings them in Australian conditions and make them such a tough team to beat in Australian conditions,” Labuschagne told Star Sports.

The middle-order mainstay termed the rivalry as ‘tough’ irrespective of where they are playing.

“There is always high anticipation. To these two teams, it doesn’t matter where we’re playing, if it’s in England, Australia, or India, it’s always a tough contest,” he said.

Australia spinner Nathan Lyon termed Indian players “superstars” while hoping to revive his on-field rivalry with India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

“I’ve always said throughout my whole career (that) I want to compete against the best and you look through the whole Indian line-up, the whole squad, there’s absolute superstars everywhere,” he said.

“I know Ashwin, we debuted around similar times and we’ve competed against each other in a number of series. I have got nothing but respect for him. He is an absolute master in the craft of off-spin bowling and it’s been an absolute privilege to play against him and learn off him,” said Lyon.

All-rounder Cameron Green reckoned the five-Test series between India and Australia starting on November 22 at Perth could be a “preview” for the final of the World Test Championship next year.

India lead the WTC table for the 2023-25 cycle with 68.52 percentage points and 74 points, followed by Australia with 62.50 percentage points and 90 points.

The WTC final will be played at Lord’s from June 11-15 next year and could feature both the current top two teams once again.

India have featured in the summit clashes of the WTC on both occasions but have lost to New Zealand (2019-21) and Australia (2021-23).

“Every single point is pretty crucial for the World Test Championship. Anyway you can kind of (or) get an idea of (to) how to get one up on your opponent, we’ll try and take,” Green said.

“If it is a bit of a preview for a World Test Championship final again, yeah, we’ve been trying to get as much information out of India and see how we can win it again,” he added.

Marcus Stoinis was dismissed in a controversial manner© Twitter