I Think There Are Only Two Choices - Mark Waugh Names Two Players Who Could Be Australia's Next Test Captain

Former Australia batsman Mark Waugh has named two players and is certain that one of them will be leading Australia after Tim Paine hangs his boots.

Mark Waugh reckons pacer Pat Cummins and former captain Steve Smith are the only two choices for the board and selectors for the next Test captain; Tim Paine is likely to call off his career after the home Ashes later in the year.

Paine was put at the helm immediately when Smith was sent back home from South Africa after his involvement in the ball-tampering incident was revealed. Under Paine, Australia managed to retain the Ashes in England – in 2019 – after a long time apart from home wins against Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. However, Australia suffered lows while losing to India at home under Paine.

“I think when Tim Paine finishes, which could be after the Ashes, I think there are only two choices: Pat Cummins and Steve Smith,” Mark Waugh told Fox Cricket’s Road to the Ashes Podcast.

“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.”

Other options would have been Travis Head, who has previously held the vice-captaincy position, and Marnus Labuschagne, but the former has lost his place from the eleven and the latter may be too young and early to be put at the helm.

I’d say Pat Cummins is favourite to be captain: Mark Waugh

Mark Waugh, who scored over 8000 runs in both ODIs and Test, has called Cummins, the no.1 ICC Test bowler, as his favourite to be the next skipper to lead Australia.

The speedster is the current vice-captain to Paine and has also been leading New South Wales in white-ball matches. Mark Waugh asserts that Smith could be named Cummins’ deputy to assist him in the new role.

“But I’d say Pat Cummins is favourite to be captain, Steve Smith vice-captain,” the 55-year old former batsman added.

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