Australian greats Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting believe Australia’s Steven Smith must not change his No3 batting position as the team looks to chart a new course under the new captain.

Smith had said after his appointment as future Australian captain that he is undecided on his batting position.

“I’ve been thinking about it and it is also going to come down to the makeup of the team and what will fit best. I haven’t completely decided to stay at three or not, we will wait and see,” he said.

However, Waugh and Ponting back him to continue at his current place in the batting line-up as he has proved to be quite successful.

“I suppose his technique at the moment, people are questioning it, but he got 200 at Lord’s,” Waugh said of Smith, who has scores of 33, 33, 215, 58, 7, 8, 6 and 5 in the ongoing Ashes series with the fifth and final Test beginning at the Oval from Thursday.

“I think he wants to bat at three so I’m not saying no.”

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Ponting believes Smith is good enough to learn from the Ashes defeat and emerge as a better batsman.

“I firmly believe that as Australia’s new captain Steven Smith should continue batting at No3 once he takes on the role,” he wrote in his column in Cricinfo.

“I know there have been a few people saying that he’s not a long-term option in that position based on what they have seen in this Ashes series, but I definitely think it is where he should bat from here on.

“Steve doesn’t give me the impression he is too worried about where his stumps are, as long as he’s got his body in line with the ball.

“I am sure he will be good enough to make whatever adjustments he sees fit to be the best batsman he can be – he already has to get this far,” he added.