A more important role than that of the Prime Minister, according to John Howard.
This is not a debate on Steve Smith’s future as captain – his position as the team’s leader is untenable. Plenty has been written.
At 28 years of age – a once-in-a-generation batsman – what an absolute shame.
The complexities of this case and as to who were exactly involved will unravel, but we have a fourth Test to play and need another skipper.
Tim Paine took the captaincy for Day 4 of the third Test, but just who is next in line for the full-time role?
Applying a process of elimination finds some fascinating things.
Firstly, it starts with who is a member of the ‘leadership group’? If it is true this group made the decision – none of them should ever be involved in any leadership structure of this team again. Lucky to play in the next Test.
The fact they would let Cameron Bancroft go and do this speaks volumes.
Dave Warner (again if he is part of this infamous group) has done nothing to dispel the suggestion that he has a dynamic batsman but stands out on the field as a vocal bully. He is such a contradiction – with the bat a poster boy for counter-attacking aggressive cricket that has changed the game, in the field someone suffering from little man syndrome.
(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Nathan Lyon displayed some horrific sportsmanship towards AB de Villiers in the first Test, and arguably this has been the turning point of the series – they have hardly got him out since. In this series, Lyon has not bowled with any penetration or the guile we have seen from the last 24 months.
Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc are good bowlers, but no tacticians and in any instance if they were part of a decision to give some tape to the team’s youngest player.
If we assume Bancroft goes from the team for the fourth Test with suspension, that leaves five players to potentially lead Australia for the fourth Test.
Usman Khawaja
Shaun Marsh
Mitch Marsh
Tim Paine
Pat Cummins
Of this group, it’s either one of the Marsh brothers or Cummins to lead the team. Despite taking the reins last night Paine doesn’t have too much experience with captaincy, and Khawaja is still a mystery as to whether he can permanently hold a spot in the team.
Shaun Marsh could be the first in the ‘safe pair of hands’ argument – but at 33 in the team he is still what I would call a fledgling member of the side – he is only a couple more failures away from being dropped (and to be recalled again pardon the pun).
Is Mitch Marsh (as captain of Western Australia), ready to assume the mantle? Could he ride through this storm and shepherd in the next generation? Is he durable enough?
Or is a decision to go to Pat Cummins, unusual for an Australian side to have a bowler being a leader of the team. In fact, we are nearly harking back to Richie Benaud.
As an outsider option, could an SOS be sent back home and George Bailey be flown in? He is Shield player of the year, and Tassie captain in the team presently dominating the final. He has a wealth of first-class leadership experience.
Bailey could be the archetypal short-term safe pair of hands to guide Australia through its darkest cricketing hours since the early to mid 1980s.
If not, of the current crop in the team the only man left standing there is Mitch Marsh.
When old Mother Hubbard looked there, the cupboard was bare.
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