As Steven Smith has been named Australia’s stand-in captain for the remaining Test series against India, with the selectors convinced that opting for young blood to lead the side, instead of going for experienced player, is a step way forward.
They’ve made the correct decision, and here we look at some young players being named captain of their respective sides.
Virat Kohli
Kohli was a default choice to lead the side once MS Dhoni was declared unfit, after already leading India in the limited overs format and doing well.
He has plenty of experience to lead the side as he was captain of the Under-19 team that won the World Cup. His aggressive style and approach towards the game only meant that he was looked at as a future captain of the national side. Statistics show that whenever he has led his side, his form has only improved and that should be a striking point to let him continue to lead the side.
Angelo Mathews
With big players like Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakarra and Tillakaratne Dilshan not showing interest to lead the side and other players not experienced enough, Angelo Mathews was the only common denominator to take the reins of Sri Lanka.
Not only has he led from the front by scoring a fighting century against England in an away tour and winning the Test series, Mathews’ form has only improved since becoming skipper. He is also a handy bowler which lets the team play an extra batsman when the situation demands.
With Sangakarra, Jayawardene and Dilshan not seeing themselves playing beyond the 2015 World Cup, Angelo Mathews will have a huge responsibility to look after a young crop of players.
Steven Smith
Displaying a natural cricketing brain, who is a good player of spin and aggressive when situation demands, Smith has been rightly appointed skipper of the Australian side for the India series. He has led Australia A, New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers, but this will be the first time Smith will lead in the longest format.
At 25, he will bring fresh ideas and an approach and enthusiasm which will be refreshing to see and watch. While only time will tell whether Smith is good enough to lead the Test side, he should be given long rope to make him comfortable as a captain, keeping in mind the upcoming Ashes tour in England.
One common factor among these captains is their aggressive style and approach they bring to their side, which will only make the game interesting to watch. So here’s for the young blood to step in and change the future of Test matches.
Targa
Guest
Meanwhile Kane Williamson is being groomed to take over as NZ captain for when McCullum's back gives out and decides he retire (hopefully not for another 4-5 years, but who knows?). He just scored 120-odd as captain in an ODI against Pak this morning - all the proceeds are going to the families of those who lost loved ones in the Peshawar tragedy
Darshan Kawar
Roar Pro
I agree on most of your part Craig, but I highly doubt if Dhoni will step aside immediately for Brisbane test.
Craig Watson
Guest
Good insites Darshan. Young captains are not a new thing. Ian Craig, Kim Hughes, Steve Fleming and Graeme Smith are probably only a handful over 120 odd years of cricket. All of them were in their early twenties as is Australia's annointee Steven Smith. So some 12 years after Smith was made captain of South Africa, it is refreshing to find that our for cricket administrators are once again looking for younger blood to lead out cricket teams. Angelo Mathews appears to be doing a fine job leading Sri lanka and with plenty of calm and wise heads in Jayawadene, Dilshan and Sangakarra to mentor and guide him, Mathews should continue to improve. What a breath of fresh air Virat Kohli brought to the Indian captaincy in the first test with his never say die attitude, innovative fields and some superb batting. The BCCI should give Kohli the whole series over the more conservative Dhoni. As a cricket purist and an avid Blues supporter of many years I am personally delighted that CA have sanctioned 25 year old Steven Peter Devereux Smith as our next cricket captain.. Much deserved, as you pointed out Darshan, with his bright cricket brain, youthful enthusiasm, aggression and natural ability to read a game. Over the past 12 months Smithy has proven he is the right man for the job with his enormous capacity to stay at the crease where others are falling all around him. He leads with the bat, so it is fitting he leads the team. I am hoping, like all Australians that he is a successful captain and carries on a very proud tradition in Australian cricket.