• Source:JND
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Steve Smith has started opening for Australia in Test cricket as the star batter seems to be keen for success in the new challenge he faces in his stellar career.

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has opened up on Smith's new batting position in the longest format, saying that there is a need to have a connection between both the openers in order to succeed.

McDonald said that Smith can perform well as an opener once he and Usman Khawaja make the connection. "I suppose it's more just the connection of Usman and Smudge over time," said the coach when asked about evaluating the star batter as an opener.

 

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McDonald also lauded Smith while regarding him as "one of the best problem solvers in the game" for the Aussies.

"We've seen Davey and Usman's connection and then the partnerships that they've been able to produce. That'll be how we judge it - how that partnership functions. They're world-class performers at the top of the order and we think Steve Smith is one of the best problem solvers in the game.

 

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"We've said that leading into this and it makes sense for us that he's (Steve Smith) at the top," he added.

Following David Warner's retirement, Smith has moved to the top of the order as he took up the role in the first Test against West Indies.

While Smith couldn't capitalise big on the occasion, Australia defeated West Indies by 10 wickets in the series opener in Adelaide.

The 34-year-old Smith has been a modern-day great in the longest format of the game and has been Australia's prolific run-getter for almost a decade now.

In the 106 career Test matches so far, Smith has remained incredibly consistent and has scored 9537 runs at a marvelous average of 57.8 with the help of 32 centuries and 40 fifties.

Smith, who had been playing at the number four spot for a while, left it for Cameron Green in the ongoing series with the second match scheduled to be played from January 25 a the Gabba in Brisbane.

While playing as an opener in the first Test, Smith scored 23 runs in both innings.