Australia coach Justin Langer has responded by citing that Australian cricket is in safe hands with Tim Paine as Test captain and Aaron Finch as limited-overs captain as well. COURTESY
Soon after Steve Smith said that he wants to take up the captaincy role of Australia if he gets another chance, Australia coach Justin Langer has responded by citing that Australian cricket is in safe hands with Tim Paine as Test captain and Aaron Finch as limited-overs captain as well.
“We have two very good captains and two important competitions coming up — an Ashes and a T20 World Cup. Our future looks good,” Langer told the ABC, according to Fox Sports.
“Despite the media chatter there is no captaincy position available.”
On Monday, Smith for the first time since his removal as the captain opened up and shared his desire to lead the country again if given a chance. He was dropped from the captaincy in March 2018, for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal against South Africa in Cape Town.
“I've certainly had a lot of time to think about it and I guess now I’ve got to a point where if the opportunity did come up again, I would be keen,” Smith told News Corp.
“If it was what Cricket Australia wanted and it was what was best for the team at the time, it’s certainly something I would be interested in now, that’s for sure.”
The scandal was related to Smith, his deputy at that time David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, who was caught on camera while attempting to change the condition of the ball using sandpaper, and it changed the scenario of Australian cricket. Paine was handed over the Test captaincy and Finch the limited-overs but with the wicketkeeper-batsman Tim Paine turning 37 by the time he will captain the hosts in the Ashes series against England at the end of 2021, a succession plan would be needed too.
“I'm always going to have to live with Cape Town regardless of whether I lead again or not. It's always there,” Smith said.
“I've been through all that now. Time keeps moving forward, and I’ve learnt so much the last few years about myself and grown as a human being. I feel as though I’d be in a better place if the opportunity did come up. If it doesn’t, that’s fine as well and I’d support whoever is in charge the same way I’ve supported Tim and Finchy. I haven’t always felt like I wanted to do it again. That’s only come in the last little bit,” he concluded.
0 Comments