McDonald admitted Smith’s opening move backfired as it left the door open for Konstas to pounce into space.

Andrew McDonald says it was he and Pat Cummins who moved Steve Smith back to No. 4, after months of discussion that convinced them the move was best for Australia’s Test team.

The race to replace Smith at the top of Australia’s Test batting order will heat up on Sunday, with opening batsman Marcus Harris (Victoria) and young gun Sam Konstas (NSW) going head-to-head in the Sheffield Shield.

Cameron Bancroft will also be looking to improve his first-round pairing for Western Australia, while McDonald also insisted on Saturday that Queenslander Matt Renshaw remains an option despite being overlooked for Australia A selection.

Smith’s return to No. 4 after four Tests as an opening batsman last summer has raised questions about experimentation, and about the power Smith had after voluntarily opening in January Are.

But McDonald said that while Smith was part of the talks before the winter, it was ultimately he and captain Cummins who made the call.

And the Australia coach also said the decision was driven by Cameron Green’s season-ending back injury, as the all-rounder batted at No. 4 at the end of last summer.

“The ultimate decision is up to Patty and me and the people around us,” McDonald said on ABC radio.

“We felt like as a collective, as a leadership group, it was best for the team to make changes away from the opening.

“Obviously, we felt on the stage last year that having him open was what was best for the team. That allowed us to get Cameron (Green) into that No. 4 spot.

“As time goes on, you figure out what the future will look like, and we’ve had different challenges this summer.

“That was a collective decision. After all, that’s something Steve doesn’t make.”

McDonald kept his cards largely close to his chest over the vacant spot at the top of the Test order, but confirmed that 19-year-old Konstas was in contention after two centuries against South Australia last week.

But the Australian coach also indicated that his selection in the A-side was about giving him experience for the future.

Australia’s selectors will select the squad for the first Test following that match, before the second A-match is completed in Melbourne next week.

“The work that Sam Konstas did in the first Shield game…has given him the opportunity to learn about the inside of the Australia A set-up and also go about his business,” McDonald said.

Steve Smith. (Photo by Albert Perez – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)

“In some of the (Australia A) selections we have a bit of an eye on the future, and a bit of an eye on the here and now.

“This is not a bat-off, but all factors will be taken into consideration in whatever final decision we make.

“We have some left-handed options, some right-handed options.

“We have some guys who have piled up runs over time, so we reward that at that point. But they are all talking at the moment.”

© AAP