Khawaja Advocates for Smith to Bat at No. 4

Usman Khawaja has advocated for Steve Smith to return to the No. 4 batting position in Australia's Test lineup, highlighting Smith's impressive average of over 60 in that role. Following David Warner's retirement, Smith volunteered to open the batting but has struggled significantly, averaging just 28.50 across eight innings as an opener. Khawaja emphasized that placing Smith at No. 4 allows him to face less pressure from the new ball and gives the team a stronger chance of scoring runs after initial wickets fall. While Smith expressed flexibility about his batting position, he acknowledged the challenges of opening and noted his desire to contribute effectively to the team. With a five-Test series against India approaching, Khawaja believes that maximizing Smith's strengths is crucial for Australia's success. The Australian team management will need to weigh these perspectives as they finalize their batting order for the series.