He is back. Steve Smith is back. Smith is back as the Australian vice-captain. After more than 4 years since the disgrace of Newlands, Smith is now the vice-captain of the team. Paine’s ignominious exit post his lewd messages, left a leadership crisis within the Australian team. That too just before The Ashes. Ashes we all know is the most important series for English and Australian public. Even a World Cup defeat will not rankle as much as a defeat in the Ashes for either. Such is the importance of any Ashes series. However, there are varying opinions about whether Smith should have been made the vice-captain. Let me analyse Steve Smith’s reinstatement as vice-captain.
Pat Cummins the likeable fellow is the captain
Pat Cummins, the brilliant fast bowler, has become the first bowler to become Australian captain. For some reason, Australia never made a bowler become the captain. Perhaps, they felt that bowlers will not be able to judge properly. Perhaps, the Australian board feels that the chances of a bowler getting injured is high compared to a batsman and hence, they never wanted a bowler. However, in the light of absolutely no obvious candidate, Cummins is now the captain. It remains to be seen whether he will be in a position to carry on for the entire series. Will he feel the burden? Will his bowling suffer? We will come to know if a few week’s time. This blog is however about the reinstatement of Steve Smith.
Shane Warne at his scathing best
Shane Warne, the mercurial yet brilliant former Australian spinner, is extremely vocal about the reinstatement. Warne in his Herald Sun column has written, “In my opinion announcing him as vice-captain opens up Cricket Australia for ridicule and criticism. ‘We all love Steve Smith and are proud that he’s the best Test batsmen in the world again, but he should not be the Australian vice-captain,’ said Warne.
It indeed is a strong word. This has opened another avenue for the Barmy Army to ridicule the Australian team during the series. We all know how aggressive the Australian public is in any game in their country.
The Barmy Army will not hold back. Paine’s sex scandal and now Smith becoming the vice-captain, the Barmy Army will have a field day. Infact, a field series. Apparently, it was Cummins who was adamant for Smith to be made his deputy. Infact, it is believed that Cummins refused to become to captain if Smith is not made his deputy. Probably Cricket Australia was left with no choice.
Warne is correct because what happened at Newlands happened under Smith’s watch. He knew about the plot that about to be perpetrated. He knew pretty well what Warner and Bancroft were upto. Smith seems to have told them that he didn’t want to know. That is a clear admission that he knew and he wasn’t prepared to stop it. Being the captain of the team, he must have stopped Warner and Bancroft but he didn’t. This alone is enough to ensure that Smith should never be around management throughout his career. Not just for Australia but for any Australian state team.
Michael Clarke raises some valid points
The worry for Australia is that Smith must not be seen to be making decisions on the field. That must rest with Cummins. Steve Smith will always be under heavy scrutiny. Atleast until the end of his career. Michael Clarke was spot on, “I don’t think Steve Smith understands how extreme it is going to be,” Clarke said
“He got a tiny glimpse of it last summer against India when he scuffed the pitch and was called the biggest cheat on the planet. I don’t think he understands how heavy it is going to be on him.”
More so in an Ashes series. The English tabloids will be all-over Smith and Aussies if Smith even attempt anything remote.
Former Aussie cricketers
Cricket Australia seems to have forgiven Steve Smith but the former Aussie cricketers are not ready and may never forgive Smith for that ignominy that he brought Australian cricket. It usually is the English cricket team that will be in all sorts of disarray come an Ashes series and Australia will be settled and ready to settle some old scores against their arch-rival. This time, the boot is on the other leg. It is Australia who are vulnerable, vulnerable from all the sides and that too in their own country and England who even if they do not appear settled is atleast quietly confident.
The mental impact of such series of missteps by Cricket Australia is likely to decide the result of the series. If Australia go onto to lose this series, they can only point the fingers at themselves and the Australian board for taking some illogical decisions just before the start.
Tim Paine and Smith must be judged on the same yardstick
Tim Paine should not have been allowed to go because he didn’t do anything on the field that would have brought the game into disrepute. If Smith who did everything to bring the game into disrepute and cause enormous shame to Australian cricket is allowed to return as the vice-captain, you never know, he may still become the captain before the end of the series, Paine by the same yardstick must have been allowed to stay.
Cummins health history
More than 2000 days passed between Cummins’s first and second tests. He was laid low by a series of injuries but ever since his return, he has been playing non-stop in all formats of the game. Including IPL. With his medical history, it remains a challenge for him to remain fit for 5 tests in 6 weeks.
Warne continues his attack against Starc
Warne has never really been a supporter of Mitchell Starc. He has called for Starc to be dropped. Starc had a pretty ordinary series against India.
“He (Starc) needs to find a bit of rhythm and some form. He had a really poor World Cup. He’s just not bowling well enough. It’s too important at the Gabba. I’m all for Jhye Richardson.” Whether this will kindle the fire in Starc will have to be seen. However, I do not see Starc being part of the playing eleven for all the 5 games.