Ashes 2021-22: Pat Cummins, Steve Smith in line to become Australia captain

Australia fast bowler Pat Cummins and batter Steve Smith are in line to become the Australia captain in Tests. Following Tim Paine’s exit from the role amidst off-field scandal, Australia are set to have a new captain for the Ashes. Paine, who was promoted to captain the Test team in 2018 after the sandpaper controversy, stepped down after his derogatory text messages to a female co-worker went viral.

One of the primary candidates to take over the leadership reigns is Pat Cummins. The 28-year-old is the incumbent vice-captain of the Test team. He is also the leader of the pace attack. Ever since making a comeback to the Australian team in 2017, Cummins has established himself as one of the best pacers in all formats. It is Test format though that he reaped more rewards.

Be it in any conditions, home or away, the right-arm pacer is a handful using his bag of tricks. During the last Ashes series too, Cummins was lethal in England. However, it is being reported that CA is not too keen to give the captainship to a fast bowler. Richie Benaud was the last bowler to have captained Australia in red-ball cricket in 1964.

Meanwhile, Smith has the experience of leading Australia and has done remarkably well.  The sandpaper controversy took leadership away from him. With the Ashes series on line, CA may think to reinstate the right-hand batter as the captain of the team.