.Australian opener Usman Khawaja reckons excellent mate Steve Johnson wishes to bat No. 4 for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Prize set-- and also has actually stated it the area in Australia's hitting purchase that will certainly see 'Smear', and also the home edge, have the best odds of beating heavyweights India. Speaking To Fox Athletics Australia recently, Khawaja also supported Travis Scalp to companion him atop the purchase when the runaway success five-Test set which acquires underway in November.After final succeeding the Border-Gavaskar Prize in 2015, Australia have actually gone down 4 straight series due to the fact that-- featuring pair of on home ground in 2018/19 and also 2020/21. As the countdown to this summer months's series begins, much controversy has centred around whether Smith stays at the leading of the purchase, where he has been because Dave Detector retired in January, or returns to the middle order.BOXING: TSZYU V MURTAZALIEV|Tim Tszyu faces off versus undefeated IBF super welterweight champ Bakhram Murtazaliev|SUNSHINE 20 OCT 11AM AEST|Order Right Now along with Main Event on Kayo Athletics > When explaining why he will rearrange Australia's hitting selection, Khawaja recaped a moment from the 1937 Ashes series-- when Mam Donald Bradman famously flipped the batting purchase on an eco-friendly top, put themself number 7, and after that went and blasted 270. The opener's assistance of Crown additionally happened only hours after the flamboyant leftie went positively berko himself en route to Australia securing a 28-run victory in the position T20 versus England.Apart coming from blasting 59 runs from merely 23 spheres in Southampton, Crown likewise shattered a record-equalling 30 runs in one over.Squaring off versus England's Sam Curran, the South Australian reached three fours and also as several sixes to equal one of the most runs ever before by an Aussie batter in a T20I over-- joining Ricky Ponting (2005 ), Dan Christian (2021 ), and also Mitchell Wetland (2024 ). Steve Johnson of Australia. Picture by Kai Schwoerer/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesThe hulking initiative was a timely one given the headings surrounding exactly who need to companion Khawaja atop an Australian hitting purchase wanting to retaliate what has actually been consecutive Exam series reductions to India on home soil.Following the retirement of Warner in January, 35-year-old Johnson was actually risen alongside his terrific companion, however averaged merely 28.50 in 4 Examinations versus the Wests Indies and also New Zealand.While Johnson has just recently recommended he is "not fussed regardless" regarding where he bats against the Indians, Khawaja firmly insists 'Smear' would favor a return to number 4 this summertime." He'll just perhaps never state it," the opener laughed today." So I'll mention it for him. "Opening is an extremely crucial location ... (yet) I still believe we have the best Examination gamer of my era in the edge, in Steve Smith, and his greatest area has been actually number 4." I seem like that's his finest place." I think that the greatest harmony for our crew is (Marnus) Labuschagne 3, Johnson 4." For me, the top point to consider is actually 'what's finest for the team?'." What order credit ratings our team the absolute most runs?" And if you check out how many operates our experts scored with Davey Detector in the crew as well as Spot batting at 4, our company racked up a ton of operates" With Smear position, our company have actually still gained activities, however I don't assume we have actually racked up as a lot of runs as our company can possess." Usman Khawaja of Australia. Photograph by Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesKhawaja also pressured that when Johnson strolled to the furrow at variety 4, disorders were generally far more fit to what he preferred as a batsman." And when points remain in his favor," Khawaja stated, "he is actually nearly unstoppable". The opener additionally pointed to Mam Donald Bradman as verification of why, when you possess some of the greatest Exam batsmen of your era, and also any sort of age, in the line-up, you bat all of them no matter where it matches all of them greatest. "If you understand your cricket past, there was a circumstance in the 1930s where Don Bradman, faced with an eco-friendly leading, batted himself at number 7," Khawaja recounted." Batted himself 7 and slashed over 200."( Has A Good Laugh) Envision if he did that today?" But when you have actually obtained your finest batsman, you desire to secure him." And in Australia, the hardest opportunity to baseball bat, without a doubt, is that very first hr." New Kookaburra ball, brand-new gate, it's consistently the hardest time-- I don't care that you are." And do not get me incorrect, Steve Johnson will definitely score operates as an opening batsman." Yet will he rack up much more batting amount 4?" I reckon he will." Khawaja included his selection for opener will be actually Scalp." At the end of the day, it is actually a selection for the selectors," he said." However if you have me opening, Labuschagne 3, Smith four ... I believe that Travis Mind could be absolute best fit." He is actually obviously been actually very successful opening the hitting in one-day cricket and, simplifying, I will probably bend in the direction of him." However once again, it's not my decision." It is up to the selectors as well as I assume they have actually been actually excellent along with their processes over the final couple of years." Travis Scalp of Australia. Image by Andy Kearns/Getty ImagesSource: Getty ImagesAsked what, if anything, of Head's document innings versus England would certainly carry over to the Examination stadium, Khawaja stated: "The assurance transfers over." When you are actually finding the round effectively, racking up great deals of runs and also not much is actually undergoing your head, it's a wonderful spot to become." And also when you remain in that spot, your assurance transactions over ... it absolutely does". Earlier this week, Australian instructor Andrew McDonald showed conversations encompassing Johnson's hitting setting for the upcoming Examination series remained recurring-- without any decision but made.Asked regarding specifically where Johnson will bat, McDonald mentioned: "That is actually the inquiry on everyone's lips, isn't it?" Whilst our team have actually obtained an eye to it, our experts have not made any company choices around that a person." There is actually a lot of guesswork ... however in the background, I will be lying if I stated the talk wasn't happening." Precisely, if our company help make a switch along with Steve Smith, then somebody else will have to go to the leading.".