<
        >

          Steven Smith keen to let Australia captaincy talk 'rest for now'

          Steven Smith walking off after being dismissed Getty Images
          • Andrew McGlashan, Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfoDec 10, 2020, 08:23 AM
            Close
              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          Steven Smith has indicated that the topic of him captaining Australia again came up when Aaron Finch was injured in the T20I series against India, but is not yet fully aware of the steps that would need to be taken for him to have the role again.

          When Finch was ruled out of the second T20I in Sydney, Matthew Wade stepped up to captain Australia for the first time, in the absence of vice-captain Pat Cummins, with coach Justin Langer saying there was "a process" that needed to be gone through before Smith could lead again following his loss of the captaincy after the ball-tampering scandal in 2018.

          The success Tim Paine has had with the Test side, and the indications he wants to take the team through to at least next year's Ashes series, plus the improvements in Australia's white-ball cricket under Finch mean there is no rush for the selectors and the Cricket Australia board to make a ruling.

          "There were discussions sort of taking place," Smith said. "I think JL [Langer] answered the question when asked about me and captaincy and stuff. There's obviously a process that needs to be done. For me I just said I'm happy to do whatever is best for the team and that's the same going forward.

          "Right now Tim and Finchy are doing really good jobs in both the formats of the game. I'm comfortable where I'm at right now but as I've always said I'll do what's best for the team.

          "I think whenever there is a captain chosen, I think you go through a process where you go to the board and things like that, so I'm sure it won't be too dissimilar. It's probably more of a question for someone a bit higher up. That's all that has been said to me and, yeah, we'll let it rest for now."

          One of the challenges Australia could face when replacements for Finch and Paine are eventually needed is the relative lack of captaincy experience among possible replacements other than Smith.

          Current vice-captain Cummins has not had any chance to captain at state level and would be unlikely to get it given the limited number of games he plays for New South Wales. Marnus Labuschagne, who has been touted as another option, also has yet to have any captaincy experience.

          Travis Head, who recently lost the joint vice-captaincy position, leads South Australia and captained Australia A in the recent tour match against the Indians. Alex Carey will lead the side in the second match at the SCG starting on Friday.