Hussey wants Smith at No.3 against NZ

First it was Ricky Ponting, now it's Mike Hussey's turn to weigh in on where Australia captain Steve Smith should bat in the first Commonwealth Bank Test of the summer.

Ponting picked his first Test team for cricket.com.au yesterday, naming debutant Cameron Bancroft to partner David Warner at the top of the order and sliding Smith to No.4 to make way for Queensland Bulls captain Usman Khawaja. 

WATCH: Ponting picks first Test team

But Hussey disagrees with his former skipper, electing Smith to retain his position and take on the New Zealand attack from first-drop.

"I personally like the idea of the best batsman coming in at No.3 and setting the tone," Hussey said in Canberra today ahead of tomorrow's Prime Minister's XI clash against the Black Caps.

"Ricky Ponting, he's someone that did it for Australia, coming in at No.3 and playing nice, positive, aggressive cricket, sending a message to the opposition but also reassuring everybody else in the batting order that it's not too bad out in the middle.

"If it was up to me I'd like Steve to bat three, but there's a lot that goes into that with the team balance and where he feels most comfortable playing as well."

While Ponting was confident selecting his top order, Hussey is less certain as to who will bat around Smith and Warner at the Gabba on November 5.

The retirements of Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers following the Ashes opened up two spots in the top five, and with Adam Voges's position not yet secure, Hussey says there are plenty of options for the national selection panel.

"The way I see it, I get the feeling four batsmen are fighting it out for three spots," Hussey said.

"You're looking at Bancroft, Shaun Marsh, (Joe) Burns and Khawaja fighting for probably three spots in the order somewhere.

"I have no idea which way the selectors are going to go.

"All of those players are quality players and given the opportunity hopefully they can grasp it and make that position their own for years to come.

"All of the players throughout the Matador Cup have been making runs at various stages."

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Hussey and Smith in the 2010-11 Ashes // Getty Images

Shaun Marsh, older brother of allrounder Mitchell who looks set to retain his place for Brisbane, is the leading run-scorer in the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup with two centuries, including a Western Australia record 186 against the Cricket Australia XI.

Bancroft has also performed well with blade opening the batting with the senior Marsh, averaging 55.83 with a highest score of 176 against South Australia.

Queensland pair Burns and Khawaja haven't fared quite as well as their rivals in the west, all four men will have a chance to impress in the two-day Cricket Australia XI tour match against the Black Caps in Canberra starting Saturday.

While Ponting's batting order is set, the make-up of his fast bowling battery remains undecided, with Hussey also unsure of which way the selectors will sway after the unsuccessful Ashes campaign.

The pace attack of Mitchells Johnson and Starc and right-armer Josh Hazlewood played four of the five Tests, losing three matches and failing to master the Dukes ball.

Peter Siddle replaced Hazlewood for the fifth Test at The Oval after the NSW quick was ruled out with "minor niggles", and the Victorian grabbed six wickets for the match to prove he was still a force at international level.

"From the bowling side there's a big call there to be made as well with Peter Siddle playing the last Test in England and bowling extremely well," Hussey said.

"Do they keep going with him or do they go back to Hazlewood who they used earlier on in the series?"