Clarke makes a bold claim for potential “best opener in the world”

Michael Clarke believes that this player will not only surpass Brian Lara's 400-run mark, but also emerge as the greatest opener in history

The hunt is on for Australia’s next opening batsman now that David Warner has retired. Warner has been in that role for thirteen years, so one thing is certain. It takes time to locate a successor for him. The search has started since word of Warner’s goodbye leaked. The great Ricky Ponting has expressed his desire for Cameron Bancroft to fill the position, while Michael Clarke has backed Steve Smith to go up the order and replace the opening instead of searching outside the present Australian Test team.

In addition to backing Smith to become the world’s finest opener within a year of beginning to open the innings, Clarke, an Australian captain who won the World Cup in the past, believes that Smith can “smudge” the opener so much that he may threaten Brian Lara’s 400-run record. Smith is ‘very keen’ to bat first and is attracted to the idea. In actuality, Marnus Labuschagne believes that “no one better out there.” Although skipper Pat Cummins may not be too fond of the concept, Clarke is more than happy to have Smith and Usman Khawaja start at first base for Australia starting in the next Test series.

“I’ll tell you now about Steve Smith. If he wants to open the batting and they give him the chance, he will be the No. 1 Test opener within 12 months. He is that good a player. He is technically good enough, he lets the ball go well, he’s got a great eye, he’s got beautiful hands. Yes, he might nick the occasional one, he might get LBW but tell me someone that doesn’t. He is that good a player, and maybe it is the challenge he is looking for,” the former Australia captain.