Sydney: Former captain Michael Clarke has said that Australia should consider replacing the out-of-form Steve Smith with a specialist opener during the Border-Gavaskar Test series against India starting next month. The veteran batsman likes to bat at number four but has been opening the innings after the retirement of David Warner. But Smith has not had much success at the top of the batting order.

Cameron Green is a good option for opening.

Clarke made this comment a few days after former opener Warner recently expressed his desire to return from retirement. Tall all-rounder Cameron Green is another good option to open the innings. But due to a back injury, the Australian team will not be able to take his services against India. Clarke told 'Sky Sports Radio', "We made a mistake by making Steve Smith open the innings in Test cricket. We should not repeat the same mistake. We should choose a specialist opener who is best suited for this."

The names of these players can be considered.

Australia has the option of selecting Sam Constas and Marcus Harris to open the innings. However, according to reports, the selectors may consider the names of Josh Inglis and Nathan McSweeney. However, despite good performance in the Sheffield Shield, Inglis and McSweeney have not batted as openers.

A specialist opener is needed against India.

Clarke is not in favor of either of them, considering the kind of bowling attack India has. He said, 'How can Josh Inglis be better than a specialist opener to bat against this Indian attack? He has scored runs in the Sheffield Shield but he bats in the middle order. But you do not select the Australian cricket team in this way. The problem Australia is facing right now is that the top three contenders for specialist openers are not scoring runs in Shield cricket.'