The Ashes are less than a month away, and England and Australia have already started preparing for the biggest Test battle in the history of the sport. The Three Lions will tour down under and have received a boost as Pat Cummins will not be a part of the first Test.
Notably, the regular skipper has been struggling with a back injury and in the latest events, Cricket Australia have confirmed that Pat Cummins will miss the first Test, whereas Steve Smith will lead the side for the opening game.
There are chances that Cummins might miss more games, and Smith would extend his captaincy period. Thus, it is important to see Smith's captaincy record and also see how the right-handed batter has performed as a captain in the Ashes.
Steve Smith's captaincy record for Australia Talking about Steve Smith , he was sacked as Australia captain because of the sandpaper-incident. However, prior to that, the right-handed batter was one of the great captains for the Kangaroos.
In his career as a captain, Smith has led Australia in 40 Tests. Let's look at his detailed stats.
CriteriaSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Data Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
MatchesSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 40Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table WinsSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 23Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Win%Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 57.5%Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table LossSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 10Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table DrawnSelect Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
Smith has a 57.5% winning percentage in his 40 matches as a captain, which is great. Before moving ahead, it is also important to compare Steve Smith's captaincy stats with Pat Cummins.
Steve Smith vs Pat Cummins Captaincy Stats 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
Steve Smith 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
Pat Cummins Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
MatchesSelect 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 40Select 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 37Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table WinsSelect 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 23Select 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 23Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table Win%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 57.5%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 62.16%Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table LossSelect 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 10Select 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 8Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table DrawnSelect 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 7Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table 6Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
If we look at the stats, then Pat Cummins has already matches Steve Smith's legacy as Australia captain in three fewer games. Both Cummins and Smith have won 23 matches, but the right-arm seamer has 62.16% winning rate.
Thus, it is clear that the one-time WTC winners will definitely miss Pat Cummins as the captain more than the seamer. However, before passing any judgement, it is also equally important to see how have both players done as a leader under pressure against England and what is their record in the Ashes.
Steve Smith's record in Ashes vs Pat Cummins 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
Steve Smith 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
Pat Cummins 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
MatchesSelect 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 6Select 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 8Select 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 WinsSelect 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 5Select 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 5Select 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 Win%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 83.3%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 62.5%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 LossSelect 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 0Select 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 2Select 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 DrawnSelect 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 1Select 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 1Select Add Row Above Add Row Below Add Column Right Add Column Left Delete Row Delete Column Delete Table
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 five matches out of the six in which he has led the team against the Three Lions.
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.
Pat Cummins and Steve Smith - (Source : AFP)
