Jamie Smith will bat at No. 3 for the first time in his ODI career and keep wicket for England in their Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore on Saturday. Joe Root has been England's first-choice No.

Jamie Smith will return from injury to keep wicket and bat at number three in England's Champions Trophy opener against Australia in Lahore on Saturday.

Jos Buttler backs Jamie Smith to thrive at three against Australia - The wicketkeeper-batter has been promoted to back up openers Phil Salt and Ben Duckett

While a calf injury ruled Smith out of that series, his ability against spin in Pakistan was best showcased in the longest format. October's third Test in Rawalpindi was over on the third morning on an excessively spin-friendly wicket; Pakistan did not bowl a ball of seam and all 20 England wickets fell to the spinners.

Buttler was confident about Smith's abilities and said, "We just feel it's a nice position to give him a free hit to try and really impact the game," the skipper stated during a p

The 24-year-old missed England’s last two T20s against India and the three-match ODI series owing to a left calf injury.

With Smith batting at No. 3, England's core batting line-up of Root, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler will now bat from No. 4-6 instead of No. 3-5. Apart from his new batting position, Smith will also keep wicket for England in the Champions Trophy opener against Australia.

The high-profile Group 'B’ match on Saturday, will be the first of the Champions Trophy to be staged at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Australia's stand-in captain Steve Smith says he is "not worried" about the absence of his three key fast bowlers for their Champions Trophy opener against England.