Australia took a nine wicket win over India in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after suffering big defeats in the opening two matches. The visitors arrived in India with star pacer Pat Cummins leading the pack in the first two tests. However, Cummins had to fly back home to be with his ailing mother and in his absence the team’s vice-captain Steve Smith took over. Smith, who was stripped of the captain’s armband after being found guilty of the 2018 ‘sandpaper gate’ incident in South Africa, was recently given the green light by the ICC. The batsman’s stint as captain proved to be a boon for Australia, as he led the visitors to a big win in the third Test.
As Smith received high praise from fans and pundits, former Australian all-rounder Brad Hogg stated that the batsman should replace Cummins as the full-time Test captain as it is important for a pacer to manage his workload, especially when he is playing in all three formats and the Indian Premier League.
“I think Steve Smith should be the permanent captain. Fast bowlers, you need to give them a little rest, especially when they play all three formats. Pat Cummins also continues to play in the IPL. His workload is increasing upwards. For me I think the batsmen should be captains because it puts too much pressure on the fast bowlers. Yes Pat Cummins got away with it at the beginning but as time goes on I think it’s going to create a little bit more frustration” , Hogg said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Smith will once again captain Australia, having led the team to a morale-boosting nine-wicket victory in the third Test at Indore last week. Cummins, who left the tour last month after the second test in Delhi, remains in Sydney, where his mother Maria is ill with breast cancer and is receiving palliative care.
After leading Australia to a famous victory, Smith had suggested that his time as captain is “done” and it is now “Pat’s team”.
“My time is up. It’s Pat’s team now,” Smith told reporters after the nine-wicket win. “I’ve clearly been able to hold on this week, obviously in difficult circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him at home.
“But India is a part of the world where I like being captain… it’s probably my favorite place in the world to be captain.
“Each ball is an event and therefore can determine what happens next, which is something I really love and you have to be ahead of the game.
The fourth and final Test of the series will be played in Ahmedabad from March 9.
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