Australia are off to a flying start in the five-match Ashes series as the hosts are 2-0 with a comprehensive win in the day-night Gabba Test. England cricket are at an all-time low and need to win every game to clinch the Ashes.
The caravan moves to Adelaide for the 3rd Test, which starts on December 17. The upcoming game will mark the return of Pat Cummins to the side after a long gap. The right-arm seamer was in contention to return for Gabba Test, but the management waited a bit more to let the regular skipper get fully fit.
Now that Cummins' return is almost certain, Steve Smith is most likely to return to being just a star batter in the team. Cricket Australia are in a great dilemma as the hosts are in great form without star players, and Smith is on a roll with his leadership.
Meanwhile, this article will shed light on why Cricket Australia should continue to let Steve Smith captain Australia for the rest of the Ashes despite Cummins' presence in the team.
Steve Smith's Ashes record is on a different level CriteriaSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
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Interestingly, if we look at the stats in Ashes, then Steve Smith's leadership is on a different level against England. The right-handed batter is yet to de defeated against England as a captain as he has won seven matches out of the eight in which he has led the team against the Three Lions having a win percentage of 87.5%. Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has led Australia in eight matches and has lost two matches against the Three Lions, winning five. With a win percentage of 62.5, it is fair to say that Smith seems to be the more experienced captain when it comes to playing Tests against England and the hosts might not miss Cummins the leader, but definitely the void will be missed in the bowling department. Workload management for Pat Cummins Pat Cummins is fit and set for a return to the playing XI for the first time since West Indies Tests, but still the Australian side will be careful of his workload. Cummins, similar to Bumrah, is coming fresh off a back injury, which is a delicate point and a player needs to be extra careful with these types of injuries.
Thus, it is likely that out of the remaining three games, Cummins might only play a solitary Test or at max two to seal the series and let the right-arm seamer rest to manage his workload. Amid this, the last thing Cricket Australia would want is to disturb the team's balance and ideally just go with Steve Smith as their captain for rest of the three series.
Pat Cummins' numbers just as a bowler Pat Cummins has been extremely successful as Australia captain, leading the team to World Test Championship. However, his numbers show that he has better figures without the pressure of captaincy. Let's look at his numbers as captain and without captaincy.
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Should Smith lead Australia for rest of the Ashes? A final verdict The above mentioned reasons cleary indicate that Steve Smith is on song and very much suitable to lead the team for rest of the tour. Smith has a win percentage of 87.5 and is yet to be defeated as a captain against England. Thus, Cricket Australia should indeed let Smith lead the team despite Cummins' presence in the playing XI.
Steve Smith and Pat Cummins - (Source: AFP)
