Ian Chappell backs Pat Cummins over Steve Smith for Australia Test captaincy

Former Australian skipper Ian Chappell gave his views on the next captain of the Australian national team. The discussion regarding who should lead Australia in the future has become a red-hot topic. Recently current Australian Test skipper Tim Paine gave hints that he might quit captaincy after the Ashes 2021-22. Last week, wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine had said that he might step down from the role if his team does not manage to defeat England. Not only this, but the current captain had also supported former captain Steve Smith to succeed him. Paine's remarks came after Smith said in March that he is open to the captaincy role if offered a chance. 

Tim Paine took over as captaincy reins from Smith after the star batsman was banned for two years. Smith and Warner were banned for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal that brought disgrace to Australia in South Africa. After the 2018 ball-tampering incident in Cape Town, Aaron Finch was handed over the captaincy in white-ball cricket. Tim Paine was given the reins in Tests.

As a captain, Smith had the responsibility to stop his players from tampering ball in 2018: Ian Chappell

Many cricket experts and former Australian players are of the opinion that Cummins should be handed over the captaincy reins after Tim Paine. On Tuesday, Australian legend Ian Chappell also supported Pat Cummins over Steve Smith for Australian captaincy. Chappell also spoke about Cameron Bancroft's recent remarks. Bancroft had hinted that the Aussie bowlers were aware of the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Lyon and Marsh and Smith were the bowlers in the match which SA had won by 322 runs. While referring to Cameron Bancroft's statement, the cricketer-turned-commentator stated that the possibility of Pat Cummins leading Australia in future should not be undermined even if he was aware of any plans to tamper with the ball as it was the responsibility of Smith, who was the skipper at that point of time. 

Cameron Bancroft's recent statement on the ball-tampering incident has once again brought the issue under the spotlight. Earlier, the television footage had displayed Bancroft taking a yellow object out of his pocket while fielding in the post-lunch session and rubbing it on the ball. The cricketer was later charged for attempting to change the condition of the ball.

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