Australia confirm star batter as replacement of retired David Warner for West Indies Test

After David Warner hung up his boots in Test cricket, the Australia team management has filled with names for a rightful replacement of the legendary batter. In a recent development, the selector George Bailey announced on Wednesday that Steve Smith will replace David Warner as the opening batter alongside Usman Khawaja for Australia's Test team in the upcoming two-match series against West Indies.

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Earlier, Australian media revealed that Steve Smith and all-rounder Cameron Green were the leading contenders for the vacant opener position after David Warner's retirement. The speculation arose ahead of the upcoming two-match series against West Indies, with selectors considering various options to fill the opening slot in the Test team.

"There were plenty within the team who were pretty keen to go on record and say that they weren't keen to do it. So it was refreshing that Steve had come forward and said he wanted it and it was something that we'd been chatting about in the background as a selection panel with the coaches as well. It's selfless that someone who has had so much success in one position or a couple of positions in the middle order is open and willing and hungry to have a crack at something new and something different," Bailey said to reporters. 

Cameron Green to play at number four position

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Steve Smith is set to move up the order and open alongside Usman Khawaja, taking over the vacant opener spot in Australia's Test team following David Warner's retirement. Meanwhile, all-rounder Cameron Green is confirmed to play in the first Test against West Indies, slated to bat at number four. These strategic changes were announced by selector George Bailey on Wednesday.

"The way the rest of that batting order is functioning left us feeling we have someone who we think is pretty talented who potentially was going to find it hard to get any Test cricket in the next 12 months or so," Bailey added.

In addition, Matt Renshaw, who was identified by David Warner as a potential successor, has earned a place in the squad. While Cameron Bancroft, the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, has been excluded. The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the one that secured a 3-0 series sweep against Pakistan. The two-match series against West Indies begins at Adelaide Oval on January 17, followed by the second Test at the Gabba in Brisbane starting on January 25.