Former Australia skipper Michael Clarke has weighed into the national captaincy debate, challenging the idea that a strong candidate has to be vocal of their desire to take on the role.
His reaction comes after Steve Smith told News Corp his leadership ambitions included being captain again if it “was what was best for the team at the time.”
Pat Cummins has been put forward as one strong future option with Tim Paine, 36 and white-ball skipper Aaron Finch now 34.
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Responding to an article in the Daily Telegraph, Clarke hit back at the claim that no players have put their hand up for the honour, arguing instead that leadership is not defined having the loudest voice.
“I think it is harsh to say no player has stepped forward,” he said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“You can’t [say I want to be captain]. I remember being vice-captain to Ricky Ponting, what can you do? You can’t go and say I want to captain because you don’t want to offend the current captain. I think with leadership, it doesn’t need to be a standout.
“A good leader doesn’t need to be outspoken or stand at the front of the line. You’ve got to look at the characters in the team and work out with other people around them who can lead this team.
“That’s why you’ve got coach support staff. On the field this Australian team has got a number of senior players so whoever gets this role I think is going to be in good hands. They’ve got good people around them.”
Clarke has been a strong advocate for handing Cummins the captaincy, calling him a “silent assassin.”
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“Just because Cummins isn’t out there saying I should be the next captain and I’m ready… it doesn’t mean he’s not a good leader,” Clarke added.
There are additional doubts though on whether a bowler should take on the responsibility.
The man himself though told foxsports.com.au earlier in the month that he has not had to look far for advice while captaining NSW.
“It’s been pretty stress free,” he said.
“We’ve had two games, two good wins. One day matches where we’ve got five main bowlers, so managing who bowls, when and where have been quite easy, and having people like Moises, Steve and Davey around have made it really easy.”
It goes to the heart of the point Clarke is making – that having the ‘C’ next to your name does not necessarily make that person the only one capable of leading from the front.
“I’ve made it clear what I think about Pat Cummins,” Clarke said.
“I think he’s shown he’s fit and strong enough to play all three formats now, he’s done that for the last few years. His captaincy I’ve watched tactically for New South Wales he’s been pretty good.
“Yes he’s young and inexperienced as a leader but he’ll have good senior players around him so to me I do believe Pat Cummins is the right guy to take over the leadership in all three formats at the right time. Of course he will need a good vice-captain.
“An example of that – if Tim Paine retires then someone like Alex Carey comes in, who has captained South Australia, captained the BBL, been vice-captain of Australia. I think he would make a very good vice-captain. You’ve got the likes of Steve Smith, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne.
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“All these guys have got leadership experience as well. They can help Pat Cummins.
“You don’t necessarily need to have the captain or vice-captain armband to be a leader and I feel like I say that every single day.”
As for Smith, Clarke adds that even if Australia decide against giving him the captaincy back, it won’t diminish his increasingly important place in the team.
“Smithy is going to play a huge role in the Australian team moving forward, whether he takes over the captaincy or not, his leadership is going to be important,” he said.
“If Pat Cummins gets the job, that is the first guy I would be going to and speaking to. He’s going to need his support. I think Australia does have options, they are in a wonderful place.
“They’ve just got to have the confidence to pick the right person, back him and put some support around him.”