Mark Waugh backs Pat Cummins to lead Australia in Tests

Who’ll be Australia’s next Test captain? This has been a hot topic of discussion in the cricket world lately. Tim Paine currently leads the Aussies in red-ball cricket but many fans and experts believe that the wicketkeeper-batsman’s time at the helm will end soon. Under Paine’s leadership, Australia suffered a humiliating Test series loss against India earlier this year. Ever since then, many members of the cricket fraternity have presented their opinion on Australia’s next Test skipper.

On being asked about the same, former Australia batsman Mark Waugh asserted that Steve Smith and Pat Cummins are the front-runners for the leadership role. Notably, Smith was leading Australia across formats before the infamous ball-tampering scandal jolted Australian cricket in 2018. The star batsman faced a one-year ban for his involvement in the episode and subsequently lost the leadership role.

However, he made a terrific comeback in 2019 and has been a mainstay of Australia’s batting line-up since then. At the same time, Cummins has been breathing fire with the ball and is currently the top-ranked Test bowler. Hence, Waugh believes that one of these two will succeed Paine.

“I think there are only two choices, Pat Cummins and Steve Smith”: Mark Waugh

“I think when Tim Paine finishes, which could be after the Ashes, I think there are only two choices: Pat Cummins and Steve Smith,” Waugh told Fox Cricket’s Road to the Ashes Podcast. The 55-year-old, however, also said that Cummins’ staggering rise in international cricket makes him favourite to be the next Australian captain.

“That’s our field of choices, and I don’t think the selectors will steer too far clear of that. There are no other candidates from what I can see unless someone jumps out of the ground. But I’d say Pat Cummins is favourite to be captain, Steve Smith vice-captain,” he said.

Meanwhile, Australia’s Test team will next meet Afghanistan in November this year. The clash will be followed by Ashes 2020-21, which takes place on Australian soil. As of now, Paine is quite certain to lead the Aussies in the crucial series against England but things can change after the conclusion of the five games.