(Cricket news) Pat Cummins has been announced as the 47th Australia Test captain. Cummins has been vice captain since 2019 and therefore was the obvious choice. Steve Smith has been announced as his deputy as Cummins said that he was very determined to give Smith the role.

Cummins' first tour as captain will be the mighty Ashes. There isn't a bilateral Test series more intense than the Ashes. A captaincy change right before a big tournament isn't ideal but such is the situation. Smith has said that he has been a leader for a while and has always contributed to the team but now being given an official position makes things easier. 

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Cummins has had a very interesting career trajectory. He made his debut way back in 2011 as an 18 year old. Multiple injuries kept him out of the side for almost 6 years. He made a return in 2017 and hasn't looked back since. Cummins has been the best bowler in the longest format of the game for the last 2 years and now he has the added responsibility of being captain.

There are a few disadvantages of having a fast bowler as a captain, the first one being referrals. When Cummins isn't bowling he will be fielding in the outfield which makes it difficult for Cummins to have a say in reviews. That is when Steve Smith comes into play. As a fast bowler who tends to bowl his heart out in long spells it is difficult to manage the workload of captaincy. Cummins has also said that he doesn't plan on taking any breaks from Test cricket in the near future.

Former captain Tim Paine has had a troubled couple of weeks. He has now taken an indefinite break from all forms to focus on his mental health. There hasn't been any official announcement but it is safe to assume that he will not take part in the Ashes. This opens the door for the likes of Alex Carrey, Matthew Wade, Josh Inglis and Josh Phillipe.