Sports: Steve Smith's batting position in Tests is already a talking point more than two months before the much-anticipated series against India. Since David Warner retired from the longest format of the game earlier this year, Smith moved up the order but the shift didn't work for him. He averaged only 28.5 in four Tests against the West Indies and New Zealand with only one half-century to his name.

Australia's head coach Andrew McDonald was also asked about Smith's batting position and he stated no firm decision has been made on the matter yet. However, he also admitted that discussions are in progress and a lot will depend on how and where Smith bats in the Sheffield Shield cricket before the start of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Steve Smith's record while opening and at number four in Tests

"That's the question on everyone's lips, isn't it? While we've got an eye to it, we haven't made any firm decisions around that one. There’s plenty of speculation around that. But in the background, I'd be lying if I said the conversation wasn't happening. There are conversations around a lot of what-ifs in terms of that Test summer that is to come.

"We'll unveil everything, and we'll let (Smith's coach at domestic level) Greg Shipperd know what our plans are and then we'll see what he does with his New South Wales side should Steve Smith play (Sheffield) Shield cricket," McDonald said while speaking to Australian radio station SEN.