New Delhi, March 14 -- Former Australia skipper Tim Paine on Thursday opened up Steve Smith's recent Test performance and said that he would love to see the right-handed batter succeed as an opener.

Smith has been struggling as an opener. During the recently-concluded two-Test series against New Zealand, he could score just 51 runs in four innings at an average of 12.75, with the best score of 31.

In four Tests he has opened so far, Smith has scored 171 runs at an average of 28.50, with his knock of 91* against West Indies as a solitary half-century.

While speaking at ESPN's Around The Wicket, Paine showered praise on Smith and said that he is "good enough" to bat anywhere.

"I would love to see him succeed as an opener, I think he can...