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Steve Smith has been named to take over from Michael Clarke as Australian Test cricket captain, with the 25-year-old given the job over wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Considered a serious long-term prospect for the position, Smith will be Australia’s third-youngest Test skipper after Ian Craig and Kim Hughes.
Smith has been one of Australia’s most consistent players with the bat in the last 20 months or so since being recalled in India last year, and has made five hundreds and seven half centuries in the 17 games since being reinstated.
He has cemented his spot at number five, and also his reputation as one of Australia’s best players of spin bowling.
Brad Haddin was the other contender to take over from Michael Clarke, who injured his hamstring and his back in an emotional first Test against India in Adelaide. Clarke will now miss the rest of the Indian Test series, but still wants to recover in time for the Cricket World Cup in February.
The longer term prospect of Clarke’s back an hamstring injuries means that the selectors were forced to revise their view, which would have been to pick Haddin.
Smith does have captaincy experience at domestic level, leading the NSW Blues in Sheffield Shield and the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League. In his time as Blues skipper, he made 75 and an unbeaten century in the Shield Final.
Just 23 games into his Test career, inexperience is a worry for Smith. While players such has South African namesake Graeme Smith have thrived with the responsibility, players like Alastair Cook have seen their batting fall away while in charge of an international side.
The official announcement was strangely worded, but confirmed Smith would lead in Brisbane.
“Cricket Australia (CA) has announced that Steven Smith has been appointed vice-captain of the Australian Test team effective immediately and will captain the Australian side in the absence of Michael Clarke.
“Clarke is expected to miss the remainder of the Commonwealth Bank Test Series against India due to an injured right hamstring.
“Current vice-captain Brad Haddin who led the Australian side on the final day of the Adelaide Test will serve as Smith’s deputy in Brisbane.”
What it does confirm, however is that Smith will take over from Haddin when Clarke returns.
“When Clarke returns to the side he will do so as captain with Smith serving as deputy.”
Selector Rod Marsh says the uncertain nature of Clarke’s injury led to Smith being instated as captain ahead of Haddin.
“These are difficult circumstances given Michael’s injury and the fact that we don’t know how long he will be out of the game.
“What we do know is that it won’t be an overnight fix so after a lot of thought we have taken the opportunity to appoint an emerging young leader as captain until such time as Michael regains fitness and returns to the side.”
Marsh also reserved some praise for Haddin, who will deputise.
“Brad Haddin has done an exceptional job as vice-captain since assuming the role last year and will provide strong support to Steve just as he has done for Michael.
“There was a strong argument for Brad to assume the captaincy until Michael returns, but given we don’t know how long that will be, we felt the time was right to take a longer-term view and give a young player this chance.”
The changed in leadership only apply to the Test arena, meaning Smith will not take over as one day vice captain yet.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith
Born June 2, 1989, Sydney, New South Wales
Australian Test player number: 415
Test debut: July 2010 v Pakistan at Lord’s
Tests played: 23
Runs scored: 1749
Batting average: 46.03
100s: 5
Highest score: 162* v India, Adelaide Oval, December 2014
Wickets: 14
Bowling average: 50.64
Catches: 18
Captaincy record (all categories of major cricket): 26 games, 16 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw
First-class captaincy record: 3 games, 2 wins, 1 draw
What do you think Roarers? Is this the best move for Australian cricket? Would Steve Smith have been your choice to lead the Australians in the second Test.
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