Ashes: Adam Gilchrist backs Pat Cummins to take over Australia captaincy, doesn’t rule out Steve Smith return

Former Australia captain and legendary wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist stated on Monday that Pat Cummins ought to have the primary shot at Test captaincy following Tim Paine’s determination to give up the coveted function over a sexting scandal.

Australia are all set to nominate a brand new Test captain earlier than the Ashes, beginning December 8, and Pat Cummins is being backed by former cricketers regardless of Australia’s reluctance to call bowlers as captains over time. Notably, Cummins had been deputy to Paine over the previous few years.Wicketkeeper-batsman Gilchrist was a profitable understudy to captains Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, main Australia in six of his 96 exams, together with a primary collection win in India in 35 years in the course of the 2004 tour.”I think Pat Cummins is the frontrunner there. I’ve got no problems with him having first opportunity. They should have him if he’s keen to do it — and he must be reasonably happy to take the role given he’s vice-captain,” Gilchrist advised Reuters.Cummins can be solely the second specialist quick bowler within the function since Ray Lindwall led in a single Test in opposition to India within the mid-Nineteen Fifties.”I see no reason to pigeonhole Pat as a fast bowler who can’t do it,” Gilchrist added.”I think he’s had a huge amount of respect from everyone, really — particularly from his teammates, so I think that’s the way they will lean.”Smith may very nicely take captaincy once more: GilchristSteve Smith, who accomplished a two-year suspension from management roles final 12 months for his half within the 2018 Newlands ball-tampering scandal, is eligible for the captaincy and has voiced his hopes of taking it on once more.However, pundits are divided as as to whether the general public can be able to embrace the batsman once more for a place sometimes called Australia’s “second-highest office in the land” after the Prime Minister.Gilchrist stated 28-year-old Cummins had stepped up as a senior chief whereas Smith was banned from management.”I just think Pat Cummins has developed into a more integral part of that team and grown in his knowledge of the game and experiences he’s had,” he added.”I think it’s a case of whilst you’re away someone else has come in over the top of you, to an extent. Steve Smith could very well take the captaincy again but Pat Cummins will be the guy they lean to now.”