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Aussie batsmen still happy to be flexible

Cape Town - Australia skipper Steve Smith feels they still don't have their best batting line up sorted, but given their depth, he doesn't feel that is too big of an issue ahead of their game against Pakistan.

The Aussies have one win and one defeat under their belts at the World Twenty20, so a loss to Pakistan could see them exit the tournament in the group stage. But Smith is confident the openers will continue to impress.

When asked about the top order, Smith said: "It depends on the kind of wickets, what we think at the time is going to be best against certain attacks and it might change in this game (against Pakistan), it might change against India as well, so guys are pretty flexible.

"Everyone, Davey (Warner) has played quite well in the middle but we know how destructive he is at the top as well.

"You've got Aaron Finch as well who is sitting in the wings and he’s very destructive at the top.

"Having said that, the two starts we've had (44 against New Zealand and 62 against Bangladesh) have been good.

"It wasn't the openers’ fault that we lost that match (against New Zealand), it was our middle order.

"And our middle order again didn't do the job to polish off the performance the other night (against Bangladesh).

"We've got a few options, it’s just about summing up what we think is best for that certain day, those conditions and against that opposition."

If anything is to change, Smith said it could be all-rounder Shane Watson to move down the order, to either get Warner back up top, or to get Finch back in the side to open with Usman Khawaja.

Smith added: "I've seen him (Watson) bat in one-day cricket at No.5 and No.6, he's batted in the middle order in IPL over here as well, and he's done quite well. He certainly can (bat down the order).

"Usman, I think, is suited to the top of the order. He plays just good cricket shots and scores at a pretty good rate without taking many risks.

"It depends what we want on that given day. If we want a bit of extra power and get off to an absolute flyer you've got options of Finch and Warner and Watson.

"And if you want just good cricket stroke play and then leave it for the middle overs and the back end, I think Usman is suited to bat for a longer period."

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