NEWS
Follow UsIn a landmark decision, Cricket Australia have named Pat Cummins as the Test skipper and Steve Smith as his deputy in the aftermath of Tim Paine resigning from the role. Cummins will be Australia's 47th Test captain and first bowler since Richie Benaud to lead the country.
A five-person selection panel conducted a due interview process, which further got the ratification from the full board of Cricket Australia, and it was eventually decided that Cummins would lead the side from the home series against England.
The panel further decided to make Steve Smith as the deputy as it has become the first tangible step towards Australia reintegrating Smith to the leadership group.
"I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer," Cummins said in a statement.
"I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years. With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group. This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to."
During the selection process, selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide, along with CA Board member and former Australia international Mel Jones, interim chair Richard Freudenstein and CEO Nick Hockley put forward Cummins as the captain after an assessment of candidates.
"I am pleased to return to the leadership of the team and look forward to helping and assisting Pat in any way I can," Smith said in a statement.
"Pat and I have played together for a long time, so we know our respective styles well. We are also great friends, as is the whole group. As a team, we want to play good, positive cricket and also really enjoy each other's company. There are exciting times ahead as we focus on the Ashes and beyond."
