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Michael Clarke and Pat Cummins
Former Australian batsman Michael Clarke believes that Pat Cummins should lead Australia in all three game formats. After Australia lost their second consecutive Test series to India at home earlier this year, calls have been growing to sack Tim Paine as Test skipper. In four Tests against India, Cummins scalped 21 wickets with four four-wicket hauls to show his efforts. He was the leading wicket-taker of the series and was also awarded the Man of the Series for his heroics. Clarke, the 2015 World Cup-winning Aussie captain, reckons that Cummins has been someone who has always put his hands up for his national side in critical situations.
Clarke appreciated Tim Paine for doing a fantastic job as Australia's Test skipper, especially after taking over from Steve Smith in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal. However, he stated that Australia needs one captain across all three formats. The former reckons that Cummins should take over across formats once Tim Paine hangs up his boots.
Pat Cummins is the right man for the role irrespective of the format: Michael Clarke
According to Michael Clarke, Pat Cummins is the right man for the role irrespective of the format. Clarke added that the pacer’s inexperience as captain should not be viewed as an obstacle. He highlighted that there are enough senior players in the team to guide Pat Cummins. Clarke also added that Smith doesn't need to be captain to play a leadership role.
On Monday, former Australia captain Steve Smith talked about how he wants to lead the national team once again. Quick to react, Australian coach Justin Langer stated that Australia has two good captains in Tim Paine (Tests) and Aaron Finch (limited-overs). Steve Smith was removed as the captain once he affirmed his involvement in the Sandpaper Gate fiasco in the Cape Town Test against South Africa in March 2018.
Pat Cummins is, for the time being, ICC's number-one ranked Test bowler. The fact that Kolkata Knight Riders bought him for a whopping amount of 15.5 crores for the 2020 Indian Premier League shows how much value the fast bowler carries. In his international career, Pat Cummins has already picked up 412 wickets.