This coming October, Australia will tour Bangladesh, starting on October 3 with a tour game in Fatullah. In the aftermath of the Ashes, it will be an interesting test of Australia’s depth in leadership.
With David Warner expected to be ruled out of the tour due to the finger injury he sustained in the second ODI against England, the selectors will have to make an interesting choice as to who will replace him as vice-captain
Australia has a paucity of experienced players in the Test team, with only two members of the team at The Oval expected to play in Bangladesh having over 50 Tests, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Johnson. If the selectors choose to rest Johnson, only Siddle will have played more than 50 Tests, a man who will likely struggle on lifeless Asian pitches.
After Steve Smith took over the captaincy, his role as vice-captain was taken over by Warner. Selectors were left with little choice. They refuse to consider bowlers for any leadership role, and only Warner and Smith are secure in their places in the top six. That left Warner as the obvious choice.
Yet due to his injury, the selectors will be forced to choose a new vice-captain for the tour, and will have to overcome their reluctance to pick a bowler in a leadership role.
There are two clear candidates, plus a few left-field selections that in all likelihood could happen. The two clear candidates are Johnson and Nathan Lyon.
Let’s start with Johnson. Since his return to the team in 2013-14, he has been a mainstay of the bowling attack. He is also the most experienced member of the team, with 71 Tests, more than double Smith’s 33 Tests. Yet there are problems with his selection.
Firstly, Johnson has already been passed over for captaincy. Way back in the aftermath of the 2013-14 Ashes, in the one-day series that followed, there was a match where Johnson should have been captain. It was the fourth ODI at Perth, the only match England won that series, and George Bailey was injured beforehand. Johnson was set to takeover, yet at the last moment, selectors baulked and rushed Bailey back in.
Secondly, Johnson has been on a slow downturn. He is tired, having lost five kilometres of pace since that series, and losing lots of venom. He had an average Ashes, and was due for a rest this series. Yet he may be pressed into service as vice-captain. This could backfire, as Johnson is old (he will be 34 by the time the Bangladesh series is over), and is no guarantee to hold his place until the end of the summer.
The second option is Nathan Lyon. Lyon has finally established himself as the team’s first choice spinner. He was Australia’s most consistent bowler this series, and definitely the best spinner on either side. He has matured considerably since his last tour of England, having mastered bowling around and over the wicket, as well as perfecting his flight and length, bowling slightly slower.
Lyon is one of the best spinners in the world at the moment. Additionally, he is a dedicated team man. One of the roles of the vice-captain is to be the conduit between the players and the captain, and Lyon would perform the role excellently. Lyon clearly puts the team above himself, and has an excellent disciplinary record. It could even be said he could do the job better than Warner. The vice-captaincy would be just rewards for his development.
However the selectors do not often think logically. In all likelihood the selectors could do something crazy. They could pick Haddin again as vice-captain, and curtail the career of Peter Nevill. They could add Bailey to the squad, and play him as vice-captain, or even worse they could give the role to Shaun Marsh. None of this would be surprising, given their track record for ridiculous decisions.
Yet for Lyon to be chosen, the selectors would have to finally give a bowler some responsibility. It is ridiculous that bowlers are not considered for leadership roles. It is about time selectors bit the bullet and picked Lyon, as he clearly is the best choice of those among tour.
What do you think? Who should be vice-captain for the Bangladesh tour?
Al
Guest
The term "loose cannon" always makes me think of cop movies. I'm just trying to picture the selectors in place of The Simpsons' McBain - "That cannon of yours is against regulation! Around here, we do things by the book" *boom* "Bye, book."
Matt from Armidale
Guest
I can only add to what most people seem to be saying - the selectors are a bunch of loose cannons and we have no idea what they'll come up with next. Lyon is the obvious, experienced, charismatic, sensible choice so I'm putting a sneaky $5 on Maxwell (vc) and Agar sharing the spin duties while Lyon sits out.
AUSI
Guest
Does it really matter? Smith is the boss - and after his correct and strong decision re Stokes, he will handle the job with aplomb. Lyon for VC
The Bush
Roar Guru
Lyon would be a more than deserving bloke and frankly should have gotten it ahead of Warner anyway. The only thing Warner has in his favour is that he plays all the formats, but then Lyon should be playing ODI cricket. You can't even say it is where they field, as Warner is rarely in the slips either (though that might change now that Pup and Watto are gone).
Kane Ellis
Roar Rookie
I think if voges is picked for the bangladesh he should be v/c until warner returns.. He finished the ashes stronger than he started and still has a decent test average of 46 which includes1 100 and 2 50 in 10 innings. I don't think it would be a wise decision to appoint a younger player like m marsh the v/c tag as he is at the stage where he needs to concentrate on his own form with the bat and maintaining his improvement with the ball. Nathan lyon is the only other option and i don't think he would do a bad job but i think voges has better credentials. I don't think George Bailey is the answer either as i believe bangladesh are a real chance of beating us and while he is a good one day batsman, his f/c average points to him being a little behind other prospective players. In saying this i would rather him than s marsh.
craig watson
Roar Rookie
If they do not decide Bailey is worth the gamble for his leadership qualities alone. I would give the deputy badge to Mitch Marsh. He has led his country at youth level and the talk is he has a good cricket brain. Left field but we could do worse than give the youngster the vice captaincy for the Bangladesh tour.
Sean Bell
Roar Rookie
Lyon is perfect for the position of vice-vice captain. He already does half the talking to the media. Perfect opportunity to cement him in a leadership role. I can never see him being made permanent VC but as a back up for emergencies he's the guy i would go too. Apart from Warner and Smith, he's the only one with the experience as well as the job security to be considered for the position. Such an obvious decision that he will no doubt be overlooked and Ashton Agar will be rushed back into the team as VC and take Lyons spot as spinner.
Jason Rebelo
Roar Pro
I think it would be a mistake. Bailey might give leadership, but our middle order is already fragile enough without picking him. He only averages 26 at test level, and 37 at first class level. Lynn, Burns, Khawaja all average more at the FC level. I don't think there's room for him, especially as he doesn't have a Brearley style level of leadership. He wont be the person to turn the team around.
Jason Rebelo
Roar Pro
He was in excellent white ball form last time he was picked for the test squad. It didn't translate to runs then, and it probably won't now. It's the type of move we've come to expect from selectors. Granted, they don't have much of a choice. Still, I'd back Lyon over Bailey for VC. Maybe CA should offer Rogers a bonus for the Bangladesh tour, see if he can be coaxed to play one more tour.
craig watson
Roar Rookie
The more I think about it. The more I reckon George Bailey may be given a second coming for the Bangladesh tour. His enormous experience and leadership and mentoring ability would be invaluable to Smithy and his his rookie squad. George has been in reasonable white ball form in England. The brain's trust should take a punt and at least select him in the squad.
craig watson
Roar Rookie
What of the next gen which start their campaign on the short Bangladesh tour next month? The completely new look side will not find it easy against a resurgent Bangladesh who drew a recent series against world champs Sth Africa. Wit Warner out who will be the two new openers? Will Adam Voges and S Marsh retain their places? Who will comprise the bowling attack now Johnson and Hazlewood have been 'rested'? Plenty to ponder for our brain's trust. My 16 man squad. Khawaja, Bancroft, Burns, Smith, Voges, Neville, M Marsh, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon. Res. S Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Boyce, Peter Siddle, Gurinder Sandhu.
craig watson
Roar Rookie
With so many veterans leaving our game all at once. This does leave the baggy greens a little rudderless as they proceed into the next generation. Leaders and mentors like Haddin, Clarke, Rogers and Watson have all gone. Leaving a rookie captain Steven Smith virtually on his own. Voges and Johnson should hang around for a while. So their presence will help the rookies during the transition.
AREH
Roar Guru
Just going by numbers and performance at test level so far, I don't think George Bailey deserves to be picked, but I think he might be, purely just for the next 12 months even. What has he done to warrant it? Very little. But is there a reason for him to be selected? I think so. Such a dramatic loss in experience and old heads in the side leaves Smith and, after the Bangladesh tour, Warner as two young leaders. This was always going to be the thing with Clarke, Rogers, Watson and Haddin all retiring at once essentially. So for his experience and leadership I think he will be picked.
Al
Guest
I thought Lyon was a shoo-in for the vice captaincy when Clarke retired, so what do I know? The selectors will probably find a Marsh to give it to.