Steve Smith has been named as Australia’s captain for the remainder of the Test series against India. After Michael Clarke ruled himself out of the series with multiple injuries, Smith was named the vice-captain of the team and will lead them as stand-in captain.
Brad Haddin took charge of the team in the first Test when Clarke was off the field, nursing his hamstring, and was touted to fill in for the injured captain. However, the severity of Clarke’s injuries has prompted Cricket Australia (CA) to think on the terms of having a long-term solution.
Smith, aged 25 years and 195 days, will become the youngest Australian captain since Kim Hughes captained the team in 1979 at 25 years and 57 days.
On Smith’s appointment, Chairman of Australia’s National Selection Panel, Rod Marsh, said, “These are difficult circumstances given Michael’s injury and the fact that we don’t know how long he will be out of the game,” he was quoted on Cricket Australia’s official website.
“What we do know is that it won’t be an overnight fix so after a lot of thought we have taken the opportunity to appoint an emerging young leader as captain until such time as Michael regains fitness and returns to the side.
“We congratulate Steve on the wonderful honour of leading his country. On Wednesday he will become Australia’s 45th Test captain and at age of 25 he will become one of our youngest leaders.
He is an exceptional young man who is highly regarded by the National Selection Panel not only for his fine performances with the bat but also his maturity and clear leadership potential.”
Of Haddin, Marsh said, “Brad Haddin has done an exceptional job as vice-captain since assuming the role last year and will provide strong support to Steve just as he has done for Michael.
There was a strong argument for Brad to assume the captaincy until Michael returns, but given we don’t know how long that will be, we felt the time was right to take a longer term view and give a young player this chance,” Marsh said.
