Next Test Captain - Post Clarke era

[Seagrave_Holmes]

After the latest setback to Clarke, unfortunately it seems his career might end a lot sooner than many would anticipate. This obviously will leave a massive leadership hole in the test team when you consider that Haddin is no spring chicken at 37 years old and Watson's form can't even guarantee his spot in the team for much longer. This begs the question, who do you think it will be and why?

I hope that Clarke can just hang around long enough until Smith is ready to take over as part of a succession plan. I think making Smith captain too soon might not be the best because he just needs to worry about piling on more runs and doesn't need the added burden. However, I don't think Clarke will last so maybe we might have someone keeping the seat warm for a short amount of time before Smith is ready. That might be Watson, or maybe Haddin. I think the team is in an awkward position where the experienced leaders in the team team are either too old, injured or don't contribute enough, meaning me might have to choose someone who isn't ready for it.

TL-DR

Who will be the next captain when Clarke retires?

 

[The_Reaper]

Why would anyone not vote for Smith?

 

[Ashton Agar]

There was a thread about this a couple of years ago. I said either Warner or Hughes. Now Hughes has gone but Smith has emerged and now Smith is clear frontrunner.

 

[bombersfan4000]

Why would anyone not vote for Smith?

because, he is from NSW

 

[Slax]

because, he is from NSW

As things currently stand his only serious competition is from another NSW player in Warner.

It's way to early to make any comment on Marsh especially as he hasn't even secured his spot in the side.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Has Smith shown much leadership wise? At this point based on what I've seen I'd definitely have Warner ahead.

Now if you told me I'd be saying that 5 years ago I'd have you committed.

 

[bombersfan4000]

As things currently stand his only serious competition is from another NSW player in Warner.

It's way to early to make any comment on Marsh especially as he hasn't even secured his spot in the side.

Haddin wont be around much longer, due to age.
Watson at captain! LOL. why not throw maxwell in as his VC as well
warner, maybe, but in a few years.
Smith seems to have modeled him self on clarkes game, would be the best option in my view, but not sure on leadership abilities.
Marsh, has been spoken of as a future test captain, but is still 22/23 & played 3 or 4 tests matches & had a terrible run of injuries.

Smith captain
March VC.

 

[The_Reaper]

Has Smith shown much leadership wise? At this point based on what I've seen I'd definitely have Warner ahead.

Now if you told me I'd be saying that 5 years ago I'd have you committed.

Sheffield Shield winning Captain? Scored a century batting at 3 in that match as well.
Pretty sure he won a champions league as Captain as well.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Sheffield Shield winning Captain? Scored a century batting at 3 in that match as well.
Pretty sure he won a champions league as Captain as well.

Maybe a touch of experience then.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Smith just has captain written all over him. I'd be surprised if he's not the next captain, and also surprised if he wasn't a very good one.

I'm from SA, but what would Australian cricket be without NSW?

 

[frankrizzo]

Might be the easiest one for the selectors since border retired and tubby stepped into the role he was born to play, it's smith post clarke simple as that.

 

[Rustin Cohle]

Warner is not captaincy material. Very good player but not a leader like Smith.

 

[Buzzasto DaSilva]

Smith has an extremely similar cricket brain to Warne, who is the best captain Australia never had. Seems like the only candidate at this stage.

 

[Righteo]

I would have no issue if Smith took over after Clarke, has matured immensely both as a player and a person in the last 18-24 months and seems like a quick and enthusiastic learner too not to mention runs under the belt as a captain. Reckon it will be one of Haddin or Watson for a year or so though before Smithy gets the reigns handed over but I hope CA and Boof agrees that he's ready.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Warner is not captaincy material. Very good player but not a leader like Smith.

I find it bizarre that people think Warner is captaincy material. Is that based on the rule that the bloke with the biggest mouth must know what he's talking about?

 

[TN25]

Steve Smith by a mile

 

[Belnakor]

I find it bizarre that people think Warner is captaincy material. Is that based on the rule that the bloke with the biggest mouth must know what he's talking about?

would have been putting Hayden as captain. good player. Not a captain's arseh*le.

 

[Slax]

Haddin wont be around much longer, due to age.
Watson at captain! LOL. why not throw maxwell in as his VC as well
warner, maybe, but in a few years.
Smith seems to have modeled him self on clarkes game, would be the best option in my view, but not sure on leadership abilities.
Marsh, has been spoken of as a future test captain, but is still 22/23 & played 3 or 4 tests matches & had a terrible run of injuries.

Smith captain
March VC.

Pretty much agree. All really depends on how Warner goes over the next 18 months or so.

Would love to see Smith take over as VC for Ashes tour next year as Haddin is a liability now and needs to be dropped down the batting order as well because he's that far out of form it's not funny

 

[Bucking Beads]

I find it bizarre that people think Warner is captaincy material. Is that based on the rule that the bloke with the biggest mouth must know what he's talking about?

It would be funny to watch though. Warner wouldn't bite his tongue when required so he isn't a captain candidate IMO.

 

[Kram]

Surely the 2 votes so far for Watson are from his parents.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The captain needs an IQ above his batting average, which rules Warner out. Really, only Smith seems to be a viable option given the reluctance over decades of having a bowler or wicket-keeper as captain - and the lack of players whose pot in the eleven is secure.
They may go Haddin if it is a short term thing, but if Clarke is forced to retire they will go with a batsman.

I had tipped Hughes, assuming he would get his place back and Clarke could go a couple more years.

 

[Natho]

Watson is a hack. Hopefully Marsh replaces him and we bring in a pure batsmen for watto. Smith seems the logical choice to captain. Hopefully the extra burden doesn't affect his batting.

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

Surely the 2 votes so far for Watson are from his parents.

I voted Watson for reasons in my OP, I would prefer Smith but I think that someone else will keep the seat warm for a bit due to the reluctance of the selectors wanting to heap so much pressure on Smith too early. After all, Smith has only really cemented his spot in the team over the last 12 months. He wasn't even selected in the initial squad for the ashes last year, thankfully the selectors got it right in the end.

 

[Tulip]

There was a thread about this a couple of years ago. I said either Warner or Hughes. Now Hughes has gone but Smith has emerged and now Smith is clear frontrunner.

You want your captain to be consistent, and I don't think Phillip ever was. Smith is a good candidate, but I'd be reluctant to give it to anyone until they're on the wrong side of 25 by a few more years than he.

Every chance Clarke stays captain in an official capacity for the next 1-3 years and they rotate it when he can't play between Smith, Haddin and Watson.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Not Watson (maybe against India). Won't somebody think of the reviews.