.Australian opener Usman Khawaja reckons excellent companion Steve Smith wishes to bat No. 4 for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Prize set-- as well as has actually announced it the area in Australia's batting purchase that are going to observe 'Smudge', as well as the home edge, have the very best odds of beating top cats India. Talking To Fox Athletics Australia this week, Khawaja additionally backed Travis Head to companion him atop the order when the runaway success five-Test set which gets underway in November.After last winning the Border-Gavaskar Prize in 2015, Australia have actually dropped 4 straight set due to the fact that-- consisting of 2 on home dirt in 2018/19 and 2020/21. As the launch procedure to this summer months's collection begins, much argument has actually centred around whether Johnson stays at the top of the purchase, where he has actually been actually considering that Dave Warner retired in January, or moves back halfway order.BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV|Tim Tszyu faces off against undefeated IBF very welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev|SUN 20 OCT 11AM AEST|Order Now along with Centerpiece on Kayo Sports > When revealing why he will rearrange Australia's hitting selection, Khawaja recounted a minute coming from the 1937 Ashes set-- when Sir Donald Bradman once flipped the hitting purchase on an environment-friendly best, put himself variety seven, and after that went and also blew up 270. The opener's help of Crown likewise came merely hrs after the swashbuckling leftie went completely berko himself en route to Australia safeguarding a 28-run victory in the opening T20 against England.Apart coming from blasting 59 fly simply 23 rounds in Southampton, Head also pounded a record-equalling 30 operates in one over.Squaring off against England's Sam Curran, the South Australian struck three fours and as several 6s to amount to the most runs ever before by an Aussie concoction in a T20I over-- participating in Ricky Ponting (2005 ), Dan Christian (2021 ), and also Mitchell Marsh (2024 ). Steve Johnson of Australia. Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesThe hulking effort was actually a well-timed one given the headlines bordering precisely who must companion Khawaja atop an Australian hitting order wanting to vindicate what has actually been actually consecutive Examination series losses to India on home soil.Following the retired life of Warner in January, 35-year-old Smith was pushed up alongside his terrific friend, yet balanced merely 28.50 in 4 Exams against the Wests Indies as well as New Zealand.While Johnson has actually lately proposed he is actually "not fussed in either case" pertaining to where he baseball bats against the Indians, Khawaja insists 'Blemish' would certainly favor a come back to amount four this summertime." He'll simply most likely certainly never state it," the opener chuckled recently." So I'll mention it for him. "Position is actually a very significant place ... (yet) I still believe our team have the greatest Exam player of my period in the side, in Steve Smith, and also his absolute best location has actually been actually number 4." I believe that that's his absolute best area." I feel like the greatest balance for our crew is (Marnus) Labuschagne 3, Smith 4." For me, the primary point to consider is 'what is actually absolute best for the team?'." What order ratings our company the most operates?" And also if you check out the number of operates our company scored along with Davey Warner in the group and also Spot hitting at 4, our company scored a lot of operates" Along with Spot opening, our experts've still won activities, however I do not assume our experts have actually scored as a lot of runs as we can possess." Usman Khawaja of Australia. Image by Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesKhawaja additionally pressured that when Smith strolled to the fold at variety 4, health conditions were actually typically even more matched to what he liked as a batsman." As well as when points are in his favour," Khawaja mentioned, "he's almost easy". The opener also led to Sir Donald Bradman as evidence of why, when you have one of the best Exam batsmen of your age, and also any kind of era, in the line-up, you bat all of them no matter where it matches all of them finest. "If you know your cricket record, there was actually a situation in the 1930s where Don Bradman, confronted with an environment-friendly leading, batted himself at variety 7," Khawaja stated." Batted themself seven and slashed over 200."( Chuckles) Envision if he carried out that today?" Yet when you've received your greatest batsman, you want to safeguard him." And in Australia, the hardest time to bat, easily, is that first hr." New Kookaburra sphere, brand new opening, it is actually constantly the hardest opportunity-- I do not care who you are actually." And also do not receive me incorrect, Steve Johnson are going to rack up operates as a position batsman." However will he count a lot more hitting amount 4?" I reckon he will." Khawaja included his pick for opener would certainly be Scalp." At the end of the time, it is actually a choice for the selectors," he claimed." But if you have me opening, Labuschagne 3, Johnson 4 ... I seem like Travis Head could be finest matched." He is actually certainly been best-selling opening the batting in one-day cricket and also, simplifying, I 'd perhaps bend in the direction of him." Yet once more, it is actually certainly not my selection." It depends on the selectors and I believe they have been good with their processes over the final number of years." Travis Head of Australia. Picture through Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesAsked what, if just about anything, of Head's report innings against England will continue to the Exam stadium, Khawaja stated: "The self-confidence transactions over." When you are actually observing the round effectively, scoring bunches of operates and also very little is undergoing your head, it's a terrific location to be." And also when you're in that spot, your confidence transfers over ... it absolutely does". Previously this week, Australian instructor Andrew McDonald disclosed discussions neighboring Johnson's hitting setting for the upcoming Test set remained recurring-- with no final decision however made.Asked regarding precisely where Smith would certainly bat, McDonald said: "That's the question on every person's lips, isn't it?" Whilst our experts've acquired an eye to it, we have not created any sort of agency decisions around that." There's a lot of guesswork ... but in the background, I will be actually lying if I mentioned the conversation wasn't taking place." Clearly, if our experts make a switch with Steve Johnson, at that point somebody else will definitely have to go to the top.".