Pat Cummins will lead Australia through to next year’s ODI World Cup, with the Test skipper appointed to the 50-over role on Tuesday.
Cricket Australia made the announcement on Tuesday morning, appointing the 29-year-old to take over from Aaron Finch.
Cummins edged out the likes of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey and Mitch Marsh to be appointed Australia’s 27th ODI skipper. He is the first bowler to hold the role since Shane Warne led Australia.
Veteran batter David Warner was not considered given his lifetime ban has not yet been overturned by Cricket Australia.
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Gilchrist looks into Aaron Finch | 06:06
The CA board met last week to discuss Warner’s ban, with a decision to come after he is heard by an independent Code of Conduct hearing.
Speaking to reporters following their AGM earlier in the week, CA chairman Lachlan Henderson said the board would look to make a decision on Warner’s leadership ban as soon as possible but warned of wider ramifications.
“I think we do need to be aware of precedent. Codes are put in place for good reason and as are sanctions. We need to be careful that we’re not reactive in relation to bans that have been imposed in the past,” Henderson said last Thursday.
“We also need to also be aware that players and those subject to sanctions can change, can do very well in the future and we’d like to think that we need to adopt a principle of fairness as we look at David’s situation particularly.
“But it is in the context of the broader code.”
He added: “I think our intention is to review the code as quickly as is practicable. It’s not in anyone’s interest for us to delay that. It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David.
The 35-year-old could still fill in over the coming year, with the left-hander’s tactical nous highly thought of by senior figures.
In an interview with Fox Cricket on Friday, Warner was asked whether he would like to be considered to replace Finch as Australia’s ODI captain ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup to which he said it would be a “privilege”.
“Look, if it ever presented itself it would be a privilege, but for me it’s about focusing on the next game and what I have to do for the team,” he said.
But the experienced opener said he would accept whatever decision the CA board decided.
It’s another cliche, it is what it is,” said Warner during a rain-interrupted T20 in Canberra, as the opener recovered on the sidelines after experiencing whiplash during the second T20.
“At the end of the day, I’ve just got to accept what the decision is handed down.
“There is talk that I might be able to have a chat to the integrity unit, if that’s possible I’m happy just to sit down with them and just chew the fat a little bit and if it does get overturned we have to go from there.
“But, for me, I’m a leader in this no matter what, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a ‘C’ or a ‘V’ next to your name, you’ve got to put your best foot forward and lead by example.”
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Cricket Australia’s chair of selectors George Bailey will address reporters at 10am AEDT.
Cummins previously hinted that the role would likely need to be shared given the huge cricket calendar over the next 18 months, which includes a home T20 World Cup, a tour of India, an Ashes campaign and an away ODI World Cup.
“You’d probably need to look at it a little bit differently to perhaps in the past with so much cricket going on, if I was offered it,” Cummins said recently.
“Just playing every single game isn’t realistic. We’ve got a handful of guys that play all three formats.
“In a year like this, T20 becomes the focus leading to a World Cup. Next year might be different with the one-day World Cup.
“But with 15 Test matches in the next six months, I don’t think you can expect the captain to play every game just because he is the captain.”
England all-rounder Ben Stokes retired from ODI because of the relentless amount of cricket played.
Australia’s next ODIs are against England next month, a three match ODI Series between the T20 World Cup and the home Test summer.
More to come.
