Steve Waugh says “Pat Cummins is the front-runner, someone like a Steve Smith might be a good vice-captain”

Following Tim Paine’s resignation as Test captain, Steve Waugh has offered his thoughts on how the country should proceed in terms of leadership. After being caught sending inappropriate messages to a female coworker four years ago, the wicket-keeper batsman stepped down as captain.

With the incident resurfacing and Cricket Australia conducting an inquiry, Paine decided to step down as Test team captain ahead of the Ashes. Pat Cummins, according to Steve Waugh, is the most natural choice to take over the captaincy reins because he is already the team’s vice-captain.

“Pat Cummins is definitely the front runner to lead the side in Brisbane for the first Test, he’s the vice-captain and there is a lot of talk of him taking over Tim Paine sooner or later even without this incident. So, I think he is the logical choice. For the vice-captain, I don’t know, someone like a Steve Smith might be a good vice-captain, he’s experienced.” Waugh said

Steve Smith

Following the completion of his ban, Steve Smith has already expressed interest in returning to the national team as captain. After two years had elapsed since the incident in South Africa, he was qualified to head the team. Waugh also stated that the selectors will be looking at Alex Carey to take Tim Paine’s place in the lineup.

“I’d say Pat Cummins will take over and the selectors would be seriously thinking about which wicket-keeper to pick for the first Test. I like Paine as a cricketer, I was a selector when I picked him. Now they will be looking into someone like an Alex Carey for the role of the wicket-keeper.” Waugh added

Despite resigning as captain of the squad, Tim Paine has left himself available for selection in the Ashes. Aside from Alex Carey, Josh Inglis has been mentioned as a possible successor to Paine in the near future.

Tim Paine will find it difficult to overcome the obstacles laid in place, according to Steve Waugh. The wicket-age keeper’s is not on his side. Prior to this occurrence, he had just undergone extensive surgery to treat his neck injury, thus the odds were already stacked against him.

Read more: Aakash Chopra says “We are not trying” in IND vs NZ T20I

Visit also: Salman Butt- “Don’t think Hardik Pandya is out of the scheme of things” in T20 World Cup 2021

SEE MORE

Play Rummy Online with Dafabet

Let’s play and Register now!