Next Test Captain - Post Clarke era

[Ashton Agar]

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.

I was probably a tad biased. It was when Hughes came back into the side to replace Ponting. I guess it's a bit trivial now but what did people think of Hughes' captaincy credentials? He certainly understood the game well, but I don't know he'd have liked all the media work.

 

[The Passenger]

Smith has been excellence on the occasions he has captained NSW.

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

The only worry with Smith is whether or not he needs the added burden of captaincy at this moment in time. He is piling on the runs so I'm not sure he needs any possible disruptions to his game.

 

[James Colorado]

IMHO, one of the differences between the current team and that of our last golden era is team stability. Admittedly much of that is due to the respective talent available, but one way of getting back to where we need to be is appointing a long term captain, someone who'll do the job for 7 years, which will allow for long term planning. Out of the available options, that means Smith and Warner are the most likely. My preference is Smith, based upon individual talent and exposed form, (my perception of) his cricketing nous, and his conduct both on and field (the Australian captain is our most prominent diplomat).

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Clearly it will be and should be Smith. In media and commentary circles, his name has been in this discussion for a long time. Initially, I thought he was nowhere near a good enough player to warrant it. But his last 18 months have put that to bed.

Warner would be next in line. A brilliant player and matured off the field, still a shit-stirrer though.

Haddin is way too old, Marsh way too inexperienced and Watson? Don't make me laugh.

 

[Bradesmaen]

The only problem with Steve Smith being Captain now is that he is still cementing his place in the team. He's had one year of good form, but needs more than that.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Wait! You think Steve Smith hasn't cemented his place in the team+?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The only problem with Steve Smith being Captain now is that he is still cementing his place in the team. He's had one year of good form, but needs more than that.

Agree, but there is nobody else.
Warner has had one year of good form away from Australia and a couple in Australia, but seems about as intelligent as the average Nine viewer.
Haddin is the current vice captain, but many want him out of the team.
And then who is there who is entrenched in the side?

At least with the captain no longer a selector, they don't have to firmly cemented. The selectors have the chance to drop a captain from the side if necessary, something that was harder in the past. You want someone who is pretty sure of their place for at least a series or two though, and that doesn't leave many options.

 

[Bradesmaen]

You also don't want the NZ situation of having Vettori in injury trouble like Clarke is and rotating it through players who want it but struggle with form when they have it.

 

[The Passenger]

Wait! You think Steve Smith hasn't cemented his place in the team+?

Short term he has.

Long term? Maybe not quite yet.

If he was to go the next 10 to 15 tests without a century and average about 25 the selectors would start getting itchy over his spot.

But I still think he should take over the captaincy. You don't give someone the captaincy with the expectation they are going to completely go to water with the bat. If it does happen, then you just handle that as required.

 

[Heisenberg_]

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

The guy shouldn't even be in the team FFS, let alone be seen as a potential captain.

 

[Kram]

Warner getting the job would probably be worth it just to troll Bradsemaen.

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

The guy shouldn't even be in the team FFS, let alone be seen as a potential captain.

Watson could find himself in the captaincy position if he has a good summer with the bat and Clarke/Haddin are suddenly gone. Not that far fetched.

 

[crownie]

Warner reminds me of Slater, could he keep his composure on the field when the game is tight or heated?

i have my doubts and think Smith would be better in those situations.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Watson could find himself in the captaincy position if he has a good summer with the bat and Clarke/Haddin are suddenly gone. Not that far fetched.

Yep, as scary as it may seem, if he can get back into some form, and Clarke is done, he may be seen as a filler captain for a couple of years until Smith is ready.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Watson could find himself in the captaincy position if he has a good summer with the bat and Clarke/Haddin are suddenly gone. Not that far fetched.

At the moment, that does seem far-fecthed. But one thing we know from Watson's history is he can have terrible form for two years straight and he will be selected every time he is fit (as long as he does his homework).

 

[King Elvis]

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

I actually think Warner has developed into a real leader; but he's still a mongrel, I'd prefer he stayed like that, he'd be a great second in command for Smith.

 

[Seagrave_Holmes]

At the moment, that does seem far-fecthed. But one thing we know from Watson's history is he can have terrible form for two years straight and he will be selected every time he is fit (as long as he does his homework).

Just trying to play devil's advocate.

 

[Seedsfan]

Marsh because he will be a gun and captained at under 19's level

 

[Big Bryza]

Smith Captain.
Warner Vice Captain.

 

[Sylvia Saint]

Short term he has.

Long term? Maybe not quite yet.

If he was to go the next 10 to 15 tests without a century and average about 25 the selectors would start getting itchy over his spot.

But I still think he should take over the captaincy. You don't give someone the captaincy with the expectation they are going to completely go to water with the bat. If it does happen, then you just handle that as required.

You could say that about any player though.

 

[Costanza_]

Who would have thought when this pimple debuted as a part-time leggie he'd one day be the unanimous (and deserved) choice for our next Test captain.

Loved watching him mature over the last 18 months. Seems to work hard off-field, loves the game, mature head, and most importantly he's fast becoming one of the most reliable middle order bats in the world.

 

[Zach Package]

Who would have thought when this pimple debuted as a part-time leggie he'd one day be the unanimous (and deserved) choice for our next Test captain..

 

[Hellgood]

You also don't want the NZ situation of having Vettori in injury trouble like Clarke is and rotating it through players who want it but struggle with form when they have it.

Who are you thinking of here? Taylor's form didn't dip much at all and McCullum has been riding the crest of a wave since taking on the job.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Who are you thinking of here? Taylor's form didn't dip much at all and McCullum has been riding the crest of a wave since taking on the job.

For some reason I thought Williamson was inbetween taylor and McCullum. McCullum has been good but Taylor definitely did have a dip after riding the wave.