Steve Smith wants to bat up the order

Steve Smith who has replaced Michael Clarke as the stand-in captain for the ongoing test series between Australia and India Monday harboured ambitions of moving up the batting order from his current number five position.

"I've been thinking about that for the past couple of hours, I haven't made a decision just yet," Smith said Monday.

"I will see what the selectors have for us in regard to the team and work out a batting order then," he was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Clarke pulled out from the series citing back and hamstring injuries and will Tuesday undergo surgery to repair his troubling right hamstring.

Having already got Clarke's job as skipper, Smith now has the opportunity to take his predecessor's No.4 slot for the second Test in Brisbane.

In the absence of Clarke, Smith has become the lynchpin in an inexperienced Australian middle order.

Smith averages 46.02 in Tests, where he has made five tons and nine half centuries in 44 innings.