Justin Langer’s smart call putting Australia’s Test vice-captaincy to the vote will be rewarded
JUSTIN Langer’s call to put the Test vice-captaincy to the vote will be rewarded. And Travis Head and Alex Carey are in the long-term leadership mix.
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JUSTIN Langer’s smart call putting Australia’s Test vice-captaincy to the vote will be rewarded in sharp contrast to a board that rubber stamped David Warner as Steve Smith’s deputy in 2015.
Mitch Marsh, 26, and Josh Hazlewood, 27, came up trumps as a conduit to Tim Paine when peers cast votes, AFL style.
The CA board could have saved Warner from himself and Australia an ugly ball-tampering crescendo in Cape Town if the pub test was applied to the opener’s vice-captaincy credentials.
Warner couldn’t separate the role of attack dog and ambitious lieutenant to Smith when best suited to focusing on success as a world-class opener.
The appointment of Marsh and Hazlewood as dual vice-captains was smart and strategic on several levels. The checks and balances that Adam Gilchrist offered Ricky Ponting, Ian Healy for Mark Taylor and Geoff Marsh to Allan Border have been restored.
Paine will almost certainly move on as Test skipper within 18 months while Australia must decide its leadership combination for the one-day format at next year’s World Cup and beyond.
Strapping, 28-Test allrounder Marsh would provide continuity as a leader across all forms if he can stay on the park. Marsh has led Western Australia with distinction — erasing all the concerns raised following a 21st birthday bender in South Africa during the Twenty20 Champions League. Disciplinarian Langer, as Warriors coach, ironed the kinks in prodigal son of Swampy Marsh.
Hazlewood is the third fast bowler behind Rodney Hogg and Jeff Thomson to be Australian vice-captain but fits the bill. Tamworth-born Hazlewood is reasoned, reliable and a certain selection as Mitchell Starc’s new-ball partner.
Leadership avenues for Travis Head — who will debut in Dubai against Pakistan from October 7 — and uncapped keeper-batsman Alex Carey — might appear premature but are prescient.
Yet to don a baggy green, there is no coincidence Head, Carey and Aaron Finch were nominated as potential leaders by contracted squad members.
Head, Carey, Finch, Marsh and Hazlewood completed an exacting application process for the vice-captaincy by presenting cases to a panel comprising Langer, Mark Taylor, Greg Chappell, CA chairman David Peever, high performance boss Pat Howard, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and psychologist Dr. Michael Lloyd.
If Head, the youngest man to lead South Australia at 21, cements Test tenure he will be integral across all forms for Australia. Extensive experience steering SA to four domestic finals and Adelaide Strikers to an a BBL title stamps Head as long-term captaincy option.
Head’s first-class batting average commanding the Redbacks is 41 and 53 for the Strikers.
Personable, articulate and gifted, Carey enjoys a rare combination of admiration from peers and officials. Former GWS midfielder Carey looms as a long-term vice-captaincy option at Test or one-day level upon replacing Paine.