Gerard Whateley says Australia has seen enough to deem the Steve Smith opener experiment a failure and believes another member of the top six should be promoted up the order.
Smith missed out on seven out of eight occasions as Usman Khawaja’s opening partner across the past two months, only once passing 31.
Against New Zealand, as Australia claimed a 2-0 win in the Trans-Tasman series, Smith averaged just 12.75.
While it was his idea to move up the order and replace the retired David Warner, the call should be undone by selectors prior to Australia playing India later this year, according to Whateley.
“I feel passionately that the top six in that order is not my batting lineup for the first Test against India,” Whateley began on SEN.
“It’s no longer a small sample size. There is enough to judge. In that configuration, it lacks chemistry and it lacks runs and I don’t think Australia would get away with it against India.
“I would undo everything they’ve done. This was never the selectors’ idea, it was never their way they were putting Smith up, it was Smith volunteering… we’ve seen it, it doesn’t work.”
The West Indies and New Zealand bowling outfits are far from unplayable, with India predicted to be much more of a challenge when their five-Test tour of Australia begins in December.
With that in mind, Whateley believes a more attacking option would better complement Khawaja at the top of the order. And that player presents himself in Travis Head, who has also endured a lean run in recent times with the willow.
The South Australian has just one century from his last 22 Test innings and Whateley believes it's a solution that could kill two birds with one stone.
“I would go back to the original concept,” Whateley continued.
“We need the Dave Warner replacement at the top of the order for the chemistry and dynamic, and that player is in the top six.
“It’s Travis Head, who is now totally out of form at (number) five.
“If you want to hold to your top six of your six best batters in the country – and they are resolute on that front – I would have Head open with Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne at three, Smith at four, Cameron Green at five and Mitch Marsh at six. I think that makes much more sense than what they’re doing at the moment.”
Whateley added: “The total get out is it was never their idea.
“It was never the selectors’ plan to do this, so it's easily undone. It’s much easier to undo than stubbornly stick with.”
Head’s Test average has dipped slightly to 41.75 due to his form slump, while Smith’s has dropped to 56.97.
India defeated Australia 2-1 in a four-Test series last year and is coming off a 4-1 demolition of England in home conditions.