Australian ace batter Steve Smith has opened up the reasons behind shifting to No. 4. Also he's glad to be back at his preferred position, yet he says he never requested to get his position back.

Steve Smith
Smith opened the innings for Australia in Test Cricket only lasted for four Test matches as chief selector George Bailey confirmed this. And the star batter is set to be back at No. 4 after Cameron Green's exit from the entire Test summer due to the back injury.

"I got asked where I'd prefer to bat, and I said four … I also said I'm happy batting wherever, I'm not really too fussed," Smith told reporters on Monday at stumps on day two of NSW's Sheffield Shield match against Victoria.

"I got asked (by Cummins, McDonald) where my preference would be, and I said four. I saw a few things last week saying that I've requested to bat at four. That wasn't the case. I said I'm happy to bat wherever you'd like me to bat, but yeah, four would be my ideal position."

Smith has terrific records at No. 4 as he averages 61.50 there but while opening the innings he managed to get only 28 average. Barring his incredible 91* against the West Indies at the Gabba, he couldn’t even cross fifty mark barrier in the opening position.

On the contrary, Cameron Green seemed to have solidified his No. 4 position on the back of his marathon 174* in Wellington against the Blackcaps. But his injury has left Australia searching his replacement.

Neither Usman Khawaja nor Marnus Labuschagne wanted Smith to continue opening, according to him.

"Obviously there's a spot there now with Greeny out," said Smith.

"Conversations we had after New Zealand, with particularly Marnus and Uzzie, they hated me up top, to be honest. They wanted me behind them. So that was a big part of it. And then obviously I've got a decent record at four.
Australia are yet to fix Usman Khawaja's partner at the top in the Border-Gavaskar series.