Will Steve Smith open in India vs Australia Test series? Head coach Andrew McDonald gives his verdict

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Will Steve Smith open in the five-Test series against India starting November 22? The question has taken centre stage as Australia start their planning to stop India from winning their third straight Test series win down under.

After the retirement of David Warner, the Australia batting mainstay opened in both the Test matches against New Zealand earlier this year. 31, 0, 11 and 9 is what the right-hander managed to score in the four innings in New Zealand.

Whether Australia can risk their most reliable Test batter to open against a lethal Indian pace attack consisting of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj, is the big question. And if not Smith with Usman Khawaja at the top, then who?

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald has admitted that the conversation to continue with Smith as their Test opener was already happening. However, he also cleared that a final decision was yet to be made, adding that captain Pat Cummins, and chief selector George Bailey will have a big role to play in making the crucial decision.

"That’s the question on everyone’s lips, isn’t it? While we’ve got an eye to it, we haven’t made any firm decisions around that one," McDonald told SEN radio when asked about Steve Smith's batting position in the upcoming Test series against India.

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

"Clearly, Patty Cummins, as the captain, is a big part of that … 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 all those hypotheticals and 'what-ifs’ that we always go through," he added.

Andrew McDonald further praised Cameron Green for his exploits at number four - the regular batting position of Smith. The all-rounder scored a stunning 174 not out while batting at number four in the first innings of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington.

"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 adds layers to the decision-making. But nothing is firm and fixed at the moment," McDonald told SEN radio.

Marnus Labuschagne, who bats at three for Australia, has opened early in his first-class career and is another opening option for Australia, and his promotion at the top would also lead to a confirmed change in the batting order.

Australia's incumbent top six to retain their spots

Andrew McDonald also minced no words in stating that the top six of the Australian batting unit would retain their place in the squad. Notably, Khawaja, Smith, Labuschange, Green, Travis Head, and Michell Marsh formed the top six of the Australian batting unit in Australia.

"In my mind it does," McDonald said when asked if incumbent top six would retain their place.

"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 (playing).

"We feel as though that the team that finished 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," he added.