Steve Smith Will Get Australia's Captaincy Only When There Are Not Much Choices - Ian Chappell

Former Australia captain, Ian Chappell opines that Steve Smith may not yet get the Test captaincy back even if Tim Paine is scrapped off the leadership role as there are some other options available in the Australian team.

With Australia’s home series defeat to India Tim Paine’s captaincy has come under the scanner – Australia failed to dismiss India in 131 overs in Sydney; the visitors chased down 328 at the Gabba, handing the hosts a defeat at the venue after 32 years. It was the second time Australia lost to India in Australia, both under Tim Paine’s captaincy.

Steve Smith has become eligible to lead Australia again. Steve Smith and David Warner were handed a year’s ban from cricket due to their involvement in the ball-tampering event, famously known as ‘Sandpaper Gate’, in 2018 in Cape Town, and Cameron Bancroft for 9 months.

Smith was given an additional year ban from captaincy, which has ended long ago, and is eligible to captain his country again. Australia is expected to visit South Africa soon.

However, if Paine is dropped as a captain, then vice-captain, Pat Cummins could take the role, or Travis Head, who is touted as Australia’s future captain could be also put to the helm. But, again, fast bowlers are rarely made long-term Test captains and Head is struggling for a place in the side.

“Yeah sure, he (Steve Smith) might get the captaincy again but I think it’s only going to be in the circumstances where there’s not much other choice,” Ian Chappell told ‘Wide World of Sports’.

If Warner gets a lifetime ban on captaincy, why doesn’t Smith?: Ian Chappell

While Smith was given a year ban from captaincy, Warner, who devised the plan of using the sandpaper and asked Cameron Bancroft to tamper the ball,  was handed a lifetime ban from leading Australia. Ian Chappell questions this difference in the ban period on the stalwarts. He even believes that Smith’s crime was far greater than Warner’s!

“Why aren’t Smith and Warner in the same category? If Smith only gets a 12 (24) month ban on captaincy, why doesn’t Warner only get that? Or if Warner gets a lifetime ban on captaincy, why doesn’t Smith? Because Smith’s crime in my eyes was greater than Warner’s,” Ian Chappell added.

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