I can't see a reason why Steve Smith shouldn't be allowed to lead Australia again: Adam Gilchrist

Ahead of the four-match Border Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, former Australian captain Adam Gilchrist reckons that CA should name Steve Smith as the vice-captain of the squad so that he can lead the team whenever the opportunity arises. Gilchrist is also surprised on why Smith hasn’t donned the captaincy hat again as he is the most appropriate and obvious candidate to lead the team again.

Steve Smith and David Warner were banned from the game of cricket for a year after they were found guilty in the ball-tampering scandal of 2018. In addition, Smith, who captained the Men in Yellow across all the formats, was sacked as a leader and a two-year leadership ban was imposed on him.

Meanwhile, the two batsmen made a stunning comeback in the Australian team just before the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and have emerged as the key performers for the side. Steve Smith is also eligible to lead the Australian team as his captaincy ban ended in March 2020.

However, CA is yet to take a call on whether he should captain again as both Aaron Finch and Tim Paine are doing a decent job as Kangaroos’ limited-overs and Test captain respectively.

CA should make Smith vice-captain immediately, says Adam Gilchrist

Detailing his opinion on the same, former Australia wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist asserted that he isn’t able to understand why Steve Smith is not leading the team if the selectors and management want him to do so. He backed Smith saying that he is the right guy to lead Australia.

“I see no reason why someone shouldn’t have a second chance and if part of that is the captaincy for Steve Smith if he’s the right guy and the most obvious candidate, I can’t see a reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to do it,” Gilchrist told Fox Cricket.

Recently, in a T20I against India, Matthew Wade was named as the stand-in captain after Finch was declared unfit for the game. This decision left many bewildered as they were hoping that Steve Smith would lead the side. Thus, Gilchrist wants CA to make him the vice-captain across all the formats so that he can lead the side normally whenever Paine or Finch finishes.

“If Cricket Australia and the selectors feel that way, and Steve Smith is keen to do it, I think they should make him vice-captain immediately. And whenever those opportunities come up – when Painey (Paine) finishes, when Finchy (Finch) finishes – he just assumes it like any normal, natural progression,” Gilchrist added.