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Fast bowler Pat Cummins has been appointed the 47th captain of the Australia Test team in place of Tim Paine, who stepped down from the position last week after revelations of a sexting incident from 2017. Cummins was earlier named as the vice-captain of the team for the Ashes but he has been elevated after an interview with a five-person selection panel and ratification from the full board of Cricket Australia.
"Pat is an outstanding player and leader -- he has earned enormous respect from his teammates and from all corners of the game for his attitude and achievements, both on and off the field," Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said in a statement.
This is an unexpected privilege: Cummins
Cummins, the world's No.1 ranked Test bowler, stated that it was an "unexpected" honour to lead Australia.
“I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer. I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim (Paine) has given the group in the past few years,” Cummins was quoted as saying in a statement.
“With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through we are a strong and tightly knit group. This is an unexpected privilege which I am very grateful for and am very much looking forward to,” he added.
Meanwhile, Steve Smith has also returned to leadership duties after being named as the vice-captain for the upcoming Ashes. Notably, Smith was forced to stand down as skipper for his involvement in the "Sandpaper-gate" ball-tampering scandal of 2018.
“I am pleased to return to the leadership of the team and look forward to helping and assisting Pat in any way I can. Pat and I have played together for a long time, so we know our respective styles well,” Smith said after the announcement was made.