Australia have named their captains and vice-captains for their white-ball sides but are yet to decide who will be Tim Paine’s vice-captain in the Test team.
Respected cricket writer for Newscorp, Robert Craddock, thinks that the position of vice-captain is one of the most undervalued in the Australian Test team and points to successful periods in Australian cricket when Geoff Marsh, Ian Healy and Adam Gilchrist were all well-performed vice-captains.
The vice-captain performs an important and often invisible role. While the captain is busy dealing with the day-to-day commitments of running an international team, the vice-captain can help keep an eye on the dressing room and see if any players might need a quiet chat or a pat on the back.
This is why the Australian selectors must think very carefully about who they elevate to the vice-captaincy position in the Test team. Some of the players who have been mooted as possible candidates include Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins or Peter Handscomb. One name that is noticeably missing from discussions but should be the favourite for the position is Nathan Lyon.
Lyon is easily the most capped (78 Tests) and experienced player in the Test team and has now been playing Test cricket for seven years. Lyon said earlier in the week that, “I’m obviously the most experienced one there with most games played so if I can provide some assistance to Tim (Paine) over the next 12 months it’s going to be a massive help to him”.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
When asked if he would like to be Test vice-captain, Lyon said, “It’s not on my radar, no, I’m a big one for believing you don’t need a label to be a leader, but if the opportunity comes then I wouldn’t say no to it. I’m pretty comfortable with where I’m sitting in the Test side”.
Lyon is the reluctant vice-captain Australian cricket needs. He is one of the first players picked in the team and has no injuries hanging over him, unlike Mitch Marsh or Pat Cummins. Cummins, Mitch Marsh and Handscomb should all be free to concentrate on playing good Test cricket while they establish themselves in the team.
History would suggest that the best vice-captains are the ones with no captaincy aspirations, unlike Michael Clarke, who coveted the captaincy while he was vice-captain. Lyon has never shown any desire to be skipper of the team.
Lyon has just broken back into the Australian white-ball squad, so his influence in the dressing room could be felt across all three formats. He is also a favourite of the Australian public, with the ‘Bowling Gary’ chant heard regularly across grounds in Australia, which would be a welcome boost after the hammering the image of the team took in South Africa.
Lyon has a mild and unassuming character and is almost the complete opposite of the man he could be replacing, David Warner.
Nathan Lyon is entrusted with singing the Australian victory song after every Test win and perhaps now he could do it as vice-captain.
Akkara
Roar Rookie
I think Khawaja is the best option not just to vice, but to captain the test team. He is the captain of the winning Sheffield shield team, and has captained both the Australia A and U19 teams. He is the highest ICC ranked Australian test batsman (since Smith and Warner are out). A man who has an Aeronautical Engineering degree, a commercial pilots license and play cricket for Australia at the age of 26 is a guy made of the right stuff!
Michael Pallaris
Roar Rookie
Probably not a bad choice, I can see Lyon as a player that would lead by example.
Peter
Roar Rookie
He's in charge of all the vice, Important role.
Bob Sims
Guest
Lyon is a great choice and would be an excellent fit along side Paine. Level head, well established and respected in the team. It is far too early to consider M Marsh or Cummins and I can't see Handscomb even being in the frame.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Craddock is only respected by his employers for his ability to manufacture drama out of thin air.
concerned supporter
Guest
Author, you say, "Respected cricket writer for Newscorp, Robert Craddock" I thought that until Craddock came down on David Warner after the SouthAfrican debacle. Craddock said from his Brisbane bunker that members of the Australian team did not want to associate with Warner. Test team turn on Warner. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/blogs/andrew-bolt/test-team-turns-on-warner/news-story/00477545371e790124452928db6a3c98 On the Back Page, last night Tim Paine addressed Craddock and he refuted Craddock's claim. Tony Squires then asked Craddock for his reply to Tim Payne. Craddock hummed & ha ed as he was found out.
Paul
Roar Guru
somebody's gotta get the skipper a cuppa tea!
Nudge
Guest
Disgruntled Kiwi
Jameswm
Guest
Yes - him. Not so sure on the second part though.
Jameswm
Guest
Hard to believe he won’t be.
Nick
Roar Guru
Does the team even need a vice captain?
Targa
Guest
The bloke who dropped the ball next to ABDV and triggered a lot of the problems in the South Africa series?!?!!! Lol
Paul
Roar Guru
Smith will captain the side by 2020, assuming he's still a Test quality player.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Good points. Seems a logical fit to me. The only concern I have is that he's not going to be the next test captain, and Paine probably only has 12-24 months of international cricket left in him. With that in mind, perhaps the selectors will be looking to give Cummins or Marsh some leadership experience.
Paul
Roar Guru
Nice article Andrew. Lyon is also the sort of guy who could help a lot with the new attitude supposedly coming soon to Australian cricket. He doesn't come across as the sort of player where getting stuck in verbally to the opposition comes naturally to him but he also has a hide like a buffalo so when the side cops a serve later this year (and we will), he's in a great place to calm others down who might struggle to cope. I can't think of a bloke better suited to the role. I wonder what would have happened if he'd been made v-c 12 months ago?