Pat Cummins Most Deserving Candidate For Captaincy - Brad Hogg Says Australian Public Still Not Ready To Have Steve Smith As A Leader

Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has picked vice-captain Pat Cummins to be the new captain of the Australian Test side when Tim Paine hangs his boots, which is likely after the home Ashes later in the year.

The former leg-spinner prefers Cummins over Steve Smith, who has become eligible for the captaincy role again, as he feels the public isn’t ready to accept Smith as the skipper again yet.

Brad Hogg believes Pat Cummins, the number 1 ICC ranked Test bowler, is a “brilliant cricketer” on the field and a “fantastic role model” off the field as well.

“I think Australia’s most deserving candidate for captaincy in both off and on the field is Pat Cummins. I think he (Cummins) is a fantastic role model and a brilliant cricketer. I think he is just perfect for the role like he does for the New South Wales,” Brad Hogg told timesnownews.com.

“The only issue I have is that the fast bowlers do have a lot more work compared to others. Pat may have to sacrifice to play other domestic leagues such as IPL to make sure that he is going to play the majority of the games in National colours. Smith might have a fantastic cricket brain but I don’t think the Australian public are still ready to see him as a leader,” Bradd Hogg added.

I would prefer two different skippers in limited-overs and Test cricket: Brad Hogg

Brad Hogg is all for split captaincy. He points out that because of the busy schedule and bio-bubble complications, someone like Pat Cummins, who could be elevated to the Test skipper, will be rested from plenty of white-ball games.

Hence the Australian team should continue with its current split captaincy, which was instituted when Tim Paine and Aaron Finch were made captains after Smith’s sacking.

The 50-year-old says Finch will continue as the white-ball skipper at least till the T20 World Cup this year; he reckons Alex Carey, a part of the white-ball side, could be a captaincy option post Finch.

“We’re still in the protocols of COVID-19 pandemic wherever we go to play so I would prefer two different skippers in limited-overs and Test cricket. I think Australia have enough squad depth to make two sides.

“I love to see Aaron Finch as a white-ball captain although he is under pressure with his batting form. He should definitely remain captain till T20 World Cup later this year. After that, Alex Carey might take the role as many see him as a promising leader,” the chinaman suther opined.

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