Retired David Warner believes that moving Steve Smith to the top of the Australian batting order will improve his performance, as it will prevent opposition teams from using short balls against him. Warner also supported the selections of Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne in the middle order, despite the potential disruptions caused by moving Smith to the top. Warner pointed out Smith’s success when coming to the crease early in Test matches, building a case for why this move could benefit the Australian team. Meanwhile, Smith himself expressed excitement about the prospect of facing the new ball and suggested that he is ready for the challenge. Warner’s insights were shared in his first public comments since Smith was announced as Australia’s Test opener, praising his teammate and substantiating his claims with statistical evidence.
