Australia captain Steve Smith is to fly home from Sri Lanka following defeat in the second ODI in Colombo after a decision was made by national selector Rod Marsh to rest the 27-year-old.
Smith will miss the remaining three one-day fixtures and two T20s, with vice-captain David Warner to take the reins for the first time.
The New South Welshman plays in all three formats of the game and has been ordered to return home to allow him time to prepare for the upcoming five-match one-day series in South Africa starting with a one-off match against Ireland on September 27 in Benoni.
“I hate missing cricket, but in the long run it will do me a world of good,” Smith said following his side’s 82-run loss on Wednesday that saw the hosts level the series at 1-1.
“The schedule is very busy. I still want to take on the role in all three formats and do it to the best of my ability.”
Smith has skippered the side for the last 24 ODIs having replaced Michael Clarke in the role following the Cricket World Cup triumph last year and Warner will become only the 23rd man to lead the Australia team in the third match in Dambulla on Sunday.
Marsh said it was always part of his plan to give Smith a rest, regardless of the state of the current series which followed a dismal 3-0 Test whitewash by Sri Lanka.
“Steve has a large amount of cricket coming up in the next 12 months and we wanted to find a time for him to freshen up and these last five matches provide a good opportunity to do so,” Marsh said.
“Our plan was always for Steve to take a break and refresh ahead of the ODI series against South Africa next month.
“This is a great leadership opportunity for David, he has really embraced his role as vice-captain and we are confident he will do a great job in Steve’s place.”
Ash
Guest
Agree with you nudge. Smith is a poor captain. He was visibly getting distressed and stressed out every time something didn't go right. The chinks in his armour are starting to show. Except I think he has been sent home to give him an excuse to stay on. There would have been public and media pressure for him to be sacked if he 'led' them to another embarassing series defeat.
Nudge
Guest
Got absolutely no dramas with Warner as a leader twodogs, I think now that he has matured he would do a really good job. But as for all your different theories with why Smith has been sent home, you haven't thought of the most logical or straight forward one. Australia are playing non stop cricket from a month a go until the end of March, April. Makes a whole lot of sence to rest someone who plays all 3 formats and happens to captain all 3 formats as well. Saying he's been sent home because their getting sceptical of his captaincy and are keen to have a look at Warner, is like putting 2 and 2 together and coming up with 11.
twodogs
Guest
We will see nudge. But there has been some raised eyebrows. If the hierarchy did not see any potential in Warner, he would have been left a plain old trooper. I would dare say there are also other reasons in sending Smith home. Mere speculation you may add but in most part separated by facts, is that most posts on this site are speculative. Possibly the other reason may be to reflect on 'how' he manages the team on the field. By the way, Warner did an exemplary job in the ipl and would have been duly noted.
Nudge
Guest
Fine to have an opinion Twodogs, my opinion is you're well off the mark. Smith is an extremely young captain, took on the leadership when some brilliant Aus cricketers retired at the same time. To name a few that retired when he took over are Johnson, Clarke, Haddin, Watson, Harris and Rogers. That's about 500 test wickets, 25,000 tests runs, and 400 test matches. It was meant to be doom and gloom for a fair period. But in Smiths first 13 or 14 tests he was still underfeated. Sure we just lost to Sri Lanka 3 zip, but that happened to Clarke in India as well. Smith has done an amazing job so far, no doubt he's still got some things to work on but that will come from experience. To say that he has been sent home because the selectors aren't happy with him, and want to see what Warner is like, is nothing short of laughable.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Warner captained Sunrisers Hyderabad to the IPL crown this year. Carried the team with the bat too.
craig swanson
Guest
Can someone tell by what credentials does Davey Warner have to be vice captain and now captain of the Australian cricket team? Has he ever captained.. not to my knowledge as a Blues man born and bred he has never skippered in domestic cricket. I would have thought there were others better qualified to be Smith's deputy..Is Warner being groomed to be our next captain?
twodogs
Guest
Well Nudge, this is an opinion site is it not? Whether my opinion is right or wrong matters not. My opinion came from observation of Smiths captaincy efforts over time. The conclusion was that he's not a real good captain and I reckon the selectors know it also. You would be better served letting people post their opinion and read them with an open mind whilst entering your own to provide a fair argument between the parties, rather than shut down anything other than what you want to hear ir read. Got a poster of Smithy on your wall have you? ?
twodogs
Guest
He did want to stay bobo. He was told to go home and "rest".
Bobbo7
Guest
They got fogged in the Tests and one all in the ODIs. You would think Smith word want to stay and win something.
Nudge
Guest
What a load of crap twodogs. Don't even know what to pick on in that post of yours apart from the whole thing. Maybe comment on something you know about and stay away from cricket.
twodogs
Guest
Smith is a terrible captain. I thought it not a wise choice when Smith was ordained although there were not an abundance of contenders apart from Warner who despite his protractors, will make a fine captain. This marks a rethink by the hierarchy. Real good players such as Smith though are sometimes better left just that. Therefore while some think it odd that Smith is being sent home to 'rest', the hierarchy are actually testing the water with Warner. There can be no other reason other than that they smell Smiths captaincy deficiencies and are looking to change.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Bit weird.
Rowan JAY
Guest
Lilly of liver and weak of spirit me thinks! Unkind perhaps, but we have accused visiting captains to Australia of the same thing (yes, we made the same inference when Dhoni announced his retirement in the middle of the Sydney Test when India had lost badly). So does an Australian Captain need to be made of sterner stuff? Oh well, this tour seems to be taking scalps beyond the middle. Would love to see Rod Marsh being rested for a comfy home series when these pussy cats will roar mightily!
brasstax
Guest
By the same token, shouldn't Warner also be rested considering he has also been playing non stop cricket in all 3 formats barring a brief injury lay off? Bailey could have easily skippered the side. I can hear chickens clucking in the background.
Roostermark
Guest
Less IPL and concentrate on playing for their Country, If the players are burnt out over playing too much cricket then the players need to decide which is their priority and stick with it as it will open up opportunities for other players.
Pete McAloney
Roar Pro
I have to agree with you Peter (great name BTW). It really seems odd for the Captain to leave in the middle of the series. To mind it would have been better to leave before the ODI series began, or better still, play the whole thing. Strewth, surely he could skip a one-off against Ireland if he needs a rest!
Peter
Roar Rookie
I find this a bit bizarre, especially after a woeful test series. Nevertheless it will be interesting to see what Warner can do as captain.