Australia’s Chairman of Selectors George Bailey has said that Steve Smith is unlikely to be in the starting lineup for the opening match against New Zealand. Tim David, who had been making all the appropriate statements in the finishing role leading up to this T20 World Cup, will unsurprisingly fill the post.
“I think all the members of our 15 have a role to play but I don’t think that will be starting in the 11 for Steve,” Bailey said. “I think that… should we need a role from him at some stage, then absolutely.”
“He is tracking well. I don’t think it is any secret that our allrounders are an important part of our structure.
“I think he has hit all the markers that he wanted to but I think given the importance of that structure it is not something we wanted to risk too early but I fully expect that Mitch will be available and ready to go, whether that is Saturday or game two.”
