Making Steve Smith Australian Skipper Again Will Add To The Circus: Ian Healy
Nov 23, 2021 at 2:20 PM
Ian Healy, former Australian wicketkeeper-batter, has said that making Steve Smith the leader of the side for the Ashes — beginning in a fortnight’s time in Brisbane — will “add to the circus”, given that Tim Paine has already stepped down as the Test captain of the side in the wake of the sexting scandal.
Steve Smith, his deputy David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned by Cricket Australia (CA) for different duration, not exceeding one year, over their role in the ball-tampering episode — also termed Sandpaper-gate scandal — in the 2018 Test series in South Africa.
Ian Healy: Appointing Steve Smith As Skipper Again Will Add To The Circus
Following the episode, Tim Paine was given the reins of the Australian Test side, with Justin Langer becoming the chief coach. But with Tim Paine now in the midst of a sexting scandal involving a former Cricket Tasmania official(for which Tim Paine stepped down as skipper), Australian legend Ian Healy feels making Steve Smith captain will do Australian cricket no good given the developments of the last few days.
“We’re going to add to the circus by Steve Smith being appointed after that (the Tim Paine episode). I’ve got no problems with Steve Smith captaining Australia again; he paid a heavy price for just being a lazy captain, that’s about all he was guilty of,” Ian Healy said.
“Too many people around there think he was actually in there scratching that ball in South Africa, but if they’ve forgotten what happened he just wasn’t aware enough as captain to pull the reigns in and stop what was going to happen,” added Ian Healy.
“That was his (Smith) crime, and he got a year (ban) for it. So, I’ve got no problems, but I don’t think he needs to come in as vice-captain or straight after Paine’s indiscretion.”
Speaking on the issue of Paine relinquishing his captaincy after he got embroiled in the scandal, Ian Healy said, “Paine resigned of his own (choice), Cricket Australia said he could stay and the coach wanted him to stay on, (but) he just didn’t want to be a distraction in this circus.”
Steve Smith captained Australia in 34 Tests prior to 2018, in which he guided them to 18 victories, 10 defeats, and six draws. The top-order batter’s average of 61.8 is the second-highest by any batsman to have featured in more than 40 innings. The lack of time before such an important series is likely to work in vice-captain pacer Pat Cummins’ favour to lead Australia in Ashes 2021/22.
Moreover, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne shape as the other options for the leadership role. Steve Smith has already declared his interest in leading the national side again following the end of his ban. He became eligible to lead the side after two years had passed since the ball-tampering incident in South Africa.
Pat Cummins Frontrunner To Replace Tim Paine
Australia could be looking at pace bowler Pat Cummins as the man to replace Tim Paine, with Steve Smith likely to be his deputy, but a decision on who will lead the side in the Ashes, beginning December 8, has not been taken so far.
Tim Paine’s captaincy and his wicket-keeping standards have come under severe criticism ever since India thrashed hosts Australia 2-1 in the 4 match Test series Down Under. Tim Paine has led his country to 11 wins, four draws, and eight defeats. Under Tim Paine’s leadership, Australia had retained the Ashes and won 11 of 23 matches but had lost two successive home Test series to India.