Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has asked Australia to consider a specialist opener instead of a misfiring Steven Smith during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against India at home, starting next month.

The batting stalwart’s preferred batting position in Tests is No. 4 but he took on the role of opener after David Warner’s retirement. However, Smith hasn’t enjoyed great success at the top of the batting order. Clarke’s comments come days after former opener Warner expressed his desire to come out of retirement, which he announced earlier this year, for the crucial series.