Andrew McDonald says it was he and Pat Cummins who moved Steve Smith back to No.4, after months of discussion left them believing the move was best for Australia’s Test team.
The race to replace Smith at the top of Australia’s Test batting order will ramp up on Sunday, with openers Marcus Harris (Victoria) and young gun Sam Konstas (NSW) facing off in the Sheffield Shield.
Cameron Bancroft will also look to improve on his first-round pair for Western Australia, while McDonald also insisted on Saturday that Queenslander Matt Renshaw remained an option despite being overlooked for Australia A selection.
Smith’s shift back to No.4 after four Tests as an opener last summer has prompted questions about the experiment, and the power Smith held after volunteering to open in January.
But McDonald said that while Smith was part of the conversations dating back to winter, ultimately it was he and captain Cummins who had made the call.
And Australia’s coach also said the decision was made separate to Cameron Green’s season-ending back injury, after the allrounder batted No.4 at the end of last summer.
“That falls to Patty and myself and around making that final decision,” McDonald said on ABC radio.
“We just felt like as a collective, as in the leadership group, it was best for the team for him to make that shift away from opening.
“Clearly, we felt at the stage last year that it was the best for the team for him to open. It allowed us to get Cameron (Green) into that No.4 slot.
“As time unfolds, you map out what the future looks like, and we’ve got different challenges this summer.
“That was a collective decision. Ultimately, that’s one that Steve doesn’t make.”
McDonald largely kept his cards close to his chest on the vacant spot at the top of the Test order, but did confirm 19-year-old Konstas was in contention after twin tons against South Australia last week.
But the Australian coach also indicated his selection in the A-side was as much about giving him experience for the future.
Australia’s selectors will pick the side for the first Test after that fixture, before a second A-match in Melbourne is complete the following week.
“The work that Sam Konstas did in the first Shield game … has given him an opportunity within the Australia A set-up and to go about his business as well,” McDonald said.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
“We’ve got a bit of an eye to the future in some of the (Australia A) selections, and a bit of an eye to here and now.
“It’s not a bat-off, but all things will be taken into consideration around the final decision that we make.
“We’ve got some left-handed options, some right-handed options.
“We’ve got some guys that have piled on runs over a period of time, so it’s what we reward at that point in time. But they’re all in the conversation at the moment.”
© AAP