Warner retired from Test cricket after the last match against Pakistan in Sydney, ending his 12-year stint as a top-order batsman. Initially, Bancroft, Harris, and Renshaw were considered for the opening role, but Smith expressed his interest last week.

Chief selector George Bailey announced, “Steve Smith will open, and Cameron Green will bat at number four. Steve is motivated and eager for the challenge. It’s something he believes he can do, and it fits our team.”

Green, who was temporarily sidelined by Mitchell Marsh’s excellent performance as an all-rounder, will return primarily as a batsman. Shifting Smith up the order allows selectors to utilize Green’s batting skills.

Renshaw, the only change in the 13-man squad for the upcoming two-Test series, got a Test lifeline. Bancroft and Harris were left out, a setback for Bancroft, the leading run-scorer in Sheffield Shield over the last two seasons.

The pace trio of Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc, who played all three Tests against Pakistan, might face workload management challenges. If needed, Boland will step in.

The ODI squad for the West Indies series sees Cummins rested, and Smith taking over as captain. Marsh, Starc, and Hazlewood will also sit out the ODIs.

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (capt),  Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja,  Nathan Lyon,Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Matt Renshaw, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc,Scott Boland,.

Australia ODI squad: Steve Smith (capt), Sean Abbott, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa,Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Travis Head, Matt Short.

Steven Smith may not play in Australia’s match against Afghanistan on Tuesday in Mumbai due to vertigo. He’s had vertigo issues before and mentioned on Monday that he wasn’t feeling well, but he hoped to recover in time for the game after practicing in the nets.

Smith said, “I’ve had a bit of vertigo the last day or so, so it’s been quite bothersome. Hopefully, I can get through training today and be okay. It’s not a pleasant experience; I’ve had a few episodes in the past. But I’ll practice and hope to be fine for the game.”

When asked if this would affect his participation in Australia’s eighth league-stage match with their semi-final spot still uncertain, Smith responded, “No, I think I’ll be alright. I’m not feeling great now, but I’ll practice and see how it goes, so hopefully, I’ll be fine.”

After the press conference, Smith batted in the nets without initial discomfort. He faced throwdowns and practiced his strokes. However, he later appeared unwell and left the field with support staff members while his teammates continued to bat.

Smith has previously dealt with vertigo issues, and it affected his recovery from a concussion last year. In this World Cup, his performance hasn’t been at its best, with 205 runs and an average of 29.28 per innings.

Smith acknowledged his disappointment with his performance, saying, “I’ve had some promising partnerships but would have liked to score more runs. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well, so I hope to improve in the later stages of the tournament.”