Pat Cummins became the new Test captain for Australia in the upcoming Ashes, with Steve Smith becoming the new vice-captain as Australia ended a 65-year wait.
Follow Us
The Australian cricket team is all set to create history after 65 years. Pat Cummins, the Australia pace sensation, will be the new captain of the Australian team for the Ashes. Cummins’ appointment comes in the wake of Tim Paine quitting the captaincy in the wake of the ‘sexting’ scandal. Apart from Cummins, Steve Smith also makes a comeback to the leadership group after two years. Smith is the new vice-captain and it marks an elevation in the aftermath of the sandpapergate scandal in 2018 in Newlands.
Smith was banned for one year in the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town. In addition, Cricket Australia handed him another one-year ban from all leadership positions. However, for Cummins, it has been a brilliant journey of redemption. Cummins will be the first pace bowler to captain Australia since Ray Lindwall in 1956. Lindwall captained Australia in one game against India at the Brabourne stadium at that time.
Cummins is one of the rare players who will assume the captaincy mantle as a pacer. Waqar Younis, Shaun Pollock, Andrew Flintoff, Ian Botham, Wasim Akram, and Heath Streak are some of the most prominent names who have captained as a pace bowler. The additional benefit for all these players, with the exception of Waqar, was that they were also capable batters. But, this represents a dramatic shift for Australia as they have traditionally never employed bowlers as captains.
Even if he has to look at Cummins, he has actually achieved a first in 144 years of Test cricket. He is the first full-time captain as a pacer. In a statement released by Cummins, he stated that it was an honor.
“I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years. With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad, and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group,” Cummins stated.
Selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide, CA Board member and former Australia player Mel Jones, interim chair Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley were part of the panel that selected Cummins as captain. This was done “after a rigorous assessment of candidates”. The three-member selection panel of Bailey, Dodemaide and Justin Langer, the men’s team head coach, initially proposed Cummins and Smith as captaincy candidates to the five-member panel.
Cummins made a great start to Test cricket when he took 6/79 on debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2011. However, he suffered a string of injuries which kept him out of the national side for six years. He made his comeback in India in 2017 and since then, he has become the leader of the attack. His performances in all conditions has made him the No.1 bowler in the world.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley stated that Cummins’ elevation is proof of his talent. “Pat is an outstanding player and leader. He has earned enormous respect from his teammates and from all corners of the game for his attitude and achievements, both on and off the field. We are extremely fortunate to have an experienced group of senior players who themselves are superb leaders. I have no doubt that Pat and Steve will be well supported in their respective leadership roles,” Hockley said.
