Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has expressed strong reservations about the idea of Steve Smith opening the batting in Test matches. Hayden, known for his prolific career as an opener, labelled the suggestion “crazy” and cautioned against making such a fundamental change to the Australian batting lineup.
Hayden, speaking at the CEAT cricket rating awards in Mumbai, argued that Smith should continue to occupy his established place in the middle order. Smith has developed a formidable record in this role, boasting an average of 57 in Test cricket and 32 centuries.
Hayden highlighted the unique challenges faced by openers, especially in difficult conditions abroad. Smith’s previous attempt to open the batting earlier this year—during the home series against the West Indies and the subsequent tour to New Zealand—was not particularly successful. In those eight innings, Smith scored just one half-century and averaged only 28.50, a stark contrast to his impressive averages of 67.07 at No. 3 and 61.50 at No. 4.
“I, personally, as I said at the time, was on record saying that I didn’t like changing,” Hayden reiterated. “I think it’s crazy to think that you have the world’s best-in-class batter in a certain position, and then you change to a completely different position. For a few reasons, I think that’s crazy. Firstly, why? Such a gun in that position, such a coveted player.”
Hayden also expressed concerns about the impact of moving Smith to the top of the order on the overall structure of Australian cricket. He stressed the importance of preserving the integrity of the top three batting positions, arguing that these roles should be filled by players who have been specifically prepared for the position through Australia’s first-class cricket system. “The [batting positions of] one, two and three is a category which needs to be protected in my opinion. It sets up play,” Hayden stated.
Hayden’s comments reflect a broader debate within Australian cricket about the best way to optimize the batting lineup. While acknowledging Smith’s exceptional talent, Hayden advocates for maintaining stability in the top order and preserving the roles for which players are most suited.