Smith the last riddle in World Cup team

STEVE Smith’s position in the World Cup team appears to be the only unanswered question after Australia jetted home from New Zealand on Sunday night with its T20 plans largely crystallised.

The Black Caps crushed the understrength Aussies by seven wickets in the series-deciding T20 in Wellington in what was Australia’s last international game in any form until a white-ball West Indies tour in July.

Just 12 players were used in the five-match series, with Riley Meredith replacing Daniel Sams after the second game the only change.

The Aussies look set on playing four specialist bowlers — three frontline quicks plus leg-spinner Adam Zampa — with left-handed all-rounder Ash Agar at No 7.

The World Cup quicks will probably be Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Jhye Richardson or Kane Richardson.

Right-handed dynamos Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh will power up the middle order, while captain Aaron Finch is back in the runs at the top.

Coach Andrew McDonald has declared that if Matthew Wade plays he must bat in the top three, and so assuming opener David Warner returns then Wade would presumably come in at No 3, as he did on Sunday.

If there was no Warner then Wade would open with Finch with Smith at No 3.

Smith made 12 (9), 46 (38) and 24 (23) at No 3 against India in December and averages 39.5 at first drop — compared to just 17.5 elsewhere.

But selectors say the world’s best Test batsman is adaptable and could float in the order.

The ICC is reportedly planning to cap World Cup squads at 23 — made up of 15 players and eight staff members — and allowing countries to fund additional players if they wish.