Will Steve Smith open the batting this Test summer? Coach Andrew McDonald responds

Australia cricket coach Andrew McDonald admits that internal conversations are happening about whether Steve Smith will open the batting with Usman Khawaja this Test summer.

McDonald’s comments come after veteran cricket journalist Robert Craddock told SEN that he expects Travis Head to replace Smith at the top, with the veteran returning to the middle order.

SMITH SET TO DROP DOWN THE ORDER AS “OUTSTANDING FAVOURITE” EMERGES TO OPEN IN TESTS.

The head coach says that the nation’s coaching and leadership group already have an eye on their XI to face India in five Tests starting in November, and he says Australia will let NSW know their plans around Smith before the start of the Sheffield Shield season to best prepare the right-hander for the summer ahead.

“That's the question on everyone's lips, isn't it? Whilst we've got an eye to it, we haven't made any firm decisions around that one,” McDonald told SEN Whateley.

“There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I'd be lying if I said the conversation wasn't happening.

“There are conversations around a lot of what ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come.

“We'll unveil everything, and we'll let (NSW coach) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we'll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play Shield cricket.”

McDonald says that captain Pat Cummins will also have a big say on the final makeup of the XI but reiterated that nothing is set in place a couple of months out before the start of the series.

“What am I willing to share? Not a lot at this stage. All I can say is the conversation's happening,” McDonald said.

“Clearly, Patty Cummins as the captain is a big part of that, he’s rehabbing at the moment, he’s not over here (in the UK).

“We've already had some chats in Sydney initially around what we're thinking for the summer, and that goes right down to depth bowling and what it looks like, all those hypotheticals and what ifs that we always go through.

“Clearly, if we make a shift with Steve Smith, then someone else will have to go to the top.

“We've seen Cameron Green be really successful at number four as well. So that sort of adds layers to the decision-making.

“But nothing is firm and fixed on at the moment.”

While there’s a chance Smith doesn’t open the batting after starting in that position in the last four Test matches - averaging 28.50 - McDonald still expects the 35-year-old to remain in the team as he hopes the current top six of Smith, Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Green, Head and Mitch Marsh remain in the team.

“Yeah, in my mind it does,” McDonald said.

“Clearly there's a few other selectors, and I don't want to sort of influence the decision-making or thinking of George Bailey.

“But we've spoken about that, and we're still a big believer in the best six batters and come that first Test match, who are the best six batters?

“We feel as though that the team that finished in in New Zealand, should they get a clean run at it and be well prepared, then they would be the best-placed players to fill that, there’s no doubt about that.”

The first Test between Australia and India begins on November 22 in Perth.