Test star Steve Smith has given a subtle backhander to the early critics who questioned his move to open the batting in the Test team after “two or three innings” having silenced them with an unbeaten 91 at the Gabba.
It came as the veteran batter revealed out-of-sorts teammate Marnus Labuschagne would squeeze in a Sheffield Shield match before the next tour of England having fallen victim to the curse of trying “a little bit too hard” to address his form slump.
Smith, who was elevated to the top after the retirement of David Warner, at his request, recorded scores of 12 and 11 not out in the first Test against the West Indies.
But when he was dismissed LBW for just six in the first innings in Brisbane, his move was put in the spotlight despite having more than 9500 Test runs in the bank.
The 34-year-old then almost single-h...
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