Oz batting reshuffle on the cards

Australia captain Steve Smith will ditch his favoured No 4 spot in the first Test against India and bat at one-drop. Smith revealed plans to reshuffle the batting.

Smith moving up a slot will help Australia as their top three batsmen are all left-handers. Shuffling the pack will break that sequence and make it more difficult for India’s bowlers to pick them.

“It depends on what team make up we go with. There is probably a good chance I’ll be at three if we do have the three lefthanders, just to break it up a bit,” Smith was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Smith has experience batting at No 3 as well as No 4. However, it is in the latter spot that he has been more effective.

REMARKABLE AVERAGE

He boasts a remarkable average of 77.65 and nine centuries from 28 innings batting at No 4. Three of those centuries had come against India.

At No. 3, he has played 20 innings with a batting average of 66.22, scoring five centuries.

Australia are likely to field openers David Warner and Shaun Marsh followed by either one of Matt Renshaw or Usman Khawaja. All four batsmen are left-handers which Smith is conscious could play into the hands of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The offie, as could be expected, has enjoyed more success against left-handers. Ashwin has dismissed left-handers 135 times and right-handers 119 times. Furthermore, Ashwin’s success against right-handers will have Smith nervous since he is considered the best player among Aussies when it comes to taking on India’s spin bowling. With the pitch expected to favour spinners, Smith might find it hard dealing with Aswhin’s deliveries.

“Ashwin is a quality bowler. He’s got great skills. He presents different seam positions for what the wicket entails. He’s very accurate the way he bowls, and he hits the right areas consistently. So guys have plans in place to play him. Now it’s about being able to implement those plans under pressure, in the heat of the moment.”

› It depends on what make up of team we go with. Probably a good chance I’ll be at three if we do have the three lefthanders, just to break it up a bit. Good chance I will be at three. STEVE SMITH, on the Australian batting order