CA defend under-fire skipper
Australia Test captain Steve Smith must be counting the days till the end of 2016, and Cricket Australia have defended the skipper despite the side’s woes.
They lost their Test series in Sri Lanka three nil a few months ago, and are one nil down in the series against South Africa. They were also bowled out for 85 on day one of the second Test.
But James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, has backed the skipper, citing his age and inexperience, and adding that they have full faith in ‘Smudge’ as leader.
Sutherland told ABC Radio’s Grandstand: “We’re certainly very conscious that Steve has come into the role much younger (than previous Australia) captains and I don’t think people have really talked about this much or appreciated it.
“He’s come into this role much younger than any of his four or five predecessors. At the end of the day, I think (Allan) Border, (Mark) Taylor, (Steve) Waugh, (Ricky) Ponting and Clarke were between 29 and 34 when they came into captaincy of Australian teams.
“Steve (Smith) was 26, and in my time (since 2001) two or three of them have come into the job and none of them have made an easy transition.
“It’s a big step up and a big challenge, even more so if you don’t have the players around you who are performing as well as they might or could.
“So that added challenge is there. But we have very high regard for Steve Smith as a person, as a leader and obviously as a cricketer.
“And we think that with his support and as he builds a team around him and they perform he’s got a very bright future as a leader for a long time to come.”
Latest
-
News
England will not adopt negative approach after humbling in India – Zak Crawley
England will aim to get ‘Bazball’ back on track this summer against West Indies and Pakistan.
-
News
On this day in 2018: Australian trio banned after ball-tampering saga
The trio were handed their punishments on March 28, 2018.
-
County Cricket
Surrey stars eager to help Alec Stewart sign off with more silverware
Stewart has guided Surrey to three County Championship wins during his decade in charge.
-
Women's Cricket
Maia Bouchier smashes 91 as England Women seal T20 series victory
England made 177 for three and then restricted New Zealand to 130 for seven.
-
County Cricket
Yorkshire boosted by Harry Brook and Joe Root’s early-season availability
Both players are not at the Indian Premier League.
-
England
Ollie Pope ‘itching’ to get back scoring runs after ‘frustrating’ tour of India
The England vice-captain hit a superb 196 in Hyderabad, but averaged only 14.75 in the next four Tests of the India series.
-
Women's Cricket
Ellyse Perry says Ashes Test at MCG ‘amazing’ but unsure about four-day return
Australia will host England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the Women’s Ashes early next year.
-
County Cricket
Harry Brook set to return for start of Yorkshire’s County Championship campaign
Brook withdrew from England’s Test tour of India in January due to personal reasons.
-
England
England spinner Tom Hartley expects his exploits in India to be ‘life changing’
Hartley’s second-innings haul of seven for 62 in Hyderabad delivered one England’s greatest ever overseas victories.
-
Women's Cricket
Heather Knight urges more composure from England after New Zealand collapse
The tourists needed just 29 from 29 balls with eight wickets in hand.