Steve Smith has backflipped on opening the batting for the Australian Test side, succeeding in his bid to move back down the order against India this summer.

The Aussies’ plans were thrown into disarray when it emerged Cameron Green required back surgery and would be ruled out for the rest of the season.

But it has been revealed the injury in fact relieved the selectors of some pressure after Smith already requested a return to the middle order.

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Green took over from Smith at No.4 when the latter replaced the retired David Warner at the top midway through last summer.

While Smith struggled as an opener relative to his best, Green thrived and scored a career-best 174 not out against New Zealand in Wellington.

The results left Smith at a crossroads given he had pushed for the opportunity to challenge himself, but he has now secured a place somewhere in the middle order.

“I think Pat, Andrew and Steve have been having ongoing conversations, separate to the untimely injury to Cameron anyway,” chief selector George Bailey said on Monday.

“I think Steve had expressed a desire to move back down from that opening position.

“Pat and Andrew have confirmed that he’ll be dropping back down the order for the summer, so clearly we’ve got a No.4 spot to fill and an opening spot to fill.”

Bailey confirmed there had been talks about fitting Smith and Green into the same batting line-up but declined to reveal what decision would have been taken — or even where Smith will fall now.

“I think it’s moot,” he said of a Smith-Green tie-up.

On Smith’s position for the first Test, he added: “We’ve got another four weeks till that Test squad’s announced, and what exact order and who is in it is still to be determined.”

Potential opener Matt Renshaw has not been named in the Australia A squad for matches against India A.

But Bailey said the Queenslander, along with Nic Maddison and Peter Handscomb, will be watched closely in the Sheffield Shield.

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NSW teenager Sam Konstas is the bolter in the A squad after scoring two centuries in the Shield last week.

“He’s in the mix (for a Test debut) as are plenty of others. I certainly don’t want to single him out,” Bailey said.

“The consistency of Cam Bancroft and Marcus Harris over a number of years, they’ve both had a look at Test cricket as well, so I don’t think there’s any need at this stage to put any undue pressure or expectation on Sam.

“He’s five games into his first-class career, he’s had a good start and he certainly looks like he’s got a well-organised game that we’re really excited (about) and looking forward to seeing at the A level. We’ll continue to look to see how that progresses.”

Bailey said there is “no priority” to force young players into the Test side to freshen up an ageing group.

“It’s just about trying to get the best players we can,” he said, pointing to the revamped Australia A program to build experience.