‘Your turn’: Steve Smith’s hidden masterstroke in Ashes triumph

We witnessed Australia’s new captaincy duo in action for the first time this week, and early indications suggest it’s a match made in heaven.

When Pat Cummins was unveiled as Australia’s 47th Test captain last month, the paceman promised that newly-appointed deputy Steve Smith would have an “elevated” vice-captaincy role.

“There’ll be times in the field where I’ll throw to Steve, and you’ll see Steve moving fielders around, maybe doing bowling changes,” Cummins told reporters at the time.

“It’s going to be a real collaborative approach.”

Cricket fans witnessed their partnership in action for the first time at the Gabba this week, and early indications suggest it’s a match made in heaven.

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Following Australia’s nine-wicket triumph in the first Ashes Test, Cummins revealed how a Smith masterstroke early on day four contributed to the dismissal of the dangerous Ben Stokes in England’s second innings.

After the Australian snared three quick wickets on Saturday morning — including Nathan Lyon’s long-awaited 400th Test scalp — Stokes and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler slowly set about resurrecting the England innings, surviving more than 11 overs at the crease together.

Of course, viewers at home did not witness the majority of this partnership as broadcasters Channel 7 and Fox Cricket battled a power outage at the Brisbane venue.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood were toiling away from each end with the second new ball before Smith intervened.

“I was going to bowl Starcy one more, and Smithy kind of tapped me on the shoulder as said ‘I think it’s your turn’,” Cummins explained.

The bowling change worked immediately — Cummins removed Stokes with his second delivery at the left-hander, getting the ball to bounce viciously off the deck and catch the leading edge.

“I went up to (Smith) and gave him a big high-five,” Cummins said. “He was a big part of that wicket.”

Pat Cummins and Steve Smith, the new Australian captain and vice-captain. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

After claiming the catch at gully, young gun Cameron Green immediately pointed towards Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the slip cordon.

“I think they did say, ‘You’re going to get a catch here at gully’ to Cam Green,” Cummins said.

“But (Labuschagne) has about 10 predictions every ball.”

Smith has also proven a valuable asset to Cummins for DRS calls — because the Australian captain is typically fielding at mid-off or fine leg, he rarely has an adequate view of the action.

Early in England’s innings, Cummins trapped opening batter Haseeb Hameed on the front pad and appealed for LBW.

When the on-field umpire shook his head, Cummins turned to the slip cordon where Smith was signalling the ball would have bounced over the stumps. Hawkeye replays suggested the 32-year-old was right.

Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Australian captain Pat Cummins. Photo by Matt Roberts – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

“We’re talking. Patty is making the decisions, but we’re talking and communicating,” Smith told Fox Cricket on Friday when asked about how the dynamic between the two had been working so far in the Gabba Test.

“I get a point across, and he makes a decision … there’s plenty of communication there.”

Although there are plenty of unknowns about having a bowler as Test captain, most concerns have been quashed following the Gabba victory over England.

The second Ashes Test gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.