Photo: SAT
From Sports Desk
Melbourne, 15 December : Cricket Australia (CA) has announced that Steven Smith has been appointed vice-captain of the Australian Test team effective immediately and will captain the Australian side in the absence of Michael Clarke.
Clarke is expected to miss the remainder of the Commonwealth Bank Test Series against India due to an injured right hamstring.
Current vice-captain Brad Haddin who led the Australian side on the final day of the Adelaide Test will serve as Smith’s deputy in Brisbane.
The appointment was recommended by CA’s National Selection Panel and was endorsed by CA’s Board of Directors last night, says a CA media release.
When Clarke returns to the side he will do so as captain with Smith serving as deputy.
National Selector Rod Marsh said: “These are difficult circumstances given Michael’s injury and the fact that we don’t know how long he will be out of the game.
“What we do know is that it won’t be an overnight fix so after a lot of thought we have taken the opportunity to appoint an emerging young leader as captain until such time as Michael regains fitness and returns to the side.
“We congratulate Steve on the wonderful honour of leading his country. On Wednesday he will become Australia’s 45th Test captain and at the age of 25 will become one of our youngest leaders. He is an exceptional young man who is highly regarded by the National Selection Panel not only for his fine performances with the bat but also his maturity and clear leadership potential.
“Brad Haddin has done an exceptional job as vice-captain since assuming the role last year and will provide strong support to Steve just as he has done for Michael.
“There was a strong argument for Brad to assume the captaincy until Michael returns, but given we don’t know how long that will be, we felt the time was right to take a longer-term view and give a young player this chance.”
Commenting on the announcement, CA Chairman Wally Edwards said: “The Board fully endorsed the recommendation put forward by the selectors. Steve is an impressive young leader who deserves high praise for his temperament and on-field performances to date. We believe he will do an excellent job when given the chance to captain his country against India.”
The leadership change relates only to Test cricket.
Australia lead India 1-0 in the four-match Commonwealth Bank Test Series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The second Commonwealth Bank Test starts at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday 17 December.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith
Born June 2, 1989, Sydney, New South Wales
Australian Test player number: 415
Test debut: July 2010 v Pakistan at Lord’s
Tests played: 23
Runs scored: 1749
Batting average: 46.03
100s: 5
Highest score: 162* v India, Adelaide Oval, December 2014
Wickets: 14
Bowling average: 50.64
Catches: 18
Captaincy record (all categories of major cricket): 26 games, 16 wins, 9 losses, 1 draw
First-class captaincy record: 3 games, 2 wins, 1 draw
– SAT News Service
