Melbourne: Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh has backed Steven Smith‘s elevation as the T20 International (T20I) captain ahead of next month’s ICC World T20 2016 in India, insisting that the batsman has the capability to lead his side across all formats. On Tuesday, Smith replaced Aaron Finch as skipper in the shortest format of the game following a 3-0 whitewash against India in the just-concluded T20 series. Waugh, who led Australia in 57 Tests, said that his country’s side seemed to be more confident and embrace every challenge under the leadership of Smith while lavishing praise on the right-handed batsman’s quiet demeanor. READ: ICC World T20 2016: Steven Smith to lead Australia; Aaron Finch gets sacked
Waugh said that the decision to select Smith as Australia’s T20 captain made sense and observed that it would have been harder for the 26-year-old, who also captains his ODI and Test side, to play in a T20 game without being the skipper of the side, News.com.au reported. Australia have failed to clinch the World Twenty20 title in their previous five attempts, with their best finish coming in 2010 when they lost to England in the final. READ: Steven Smith heralded as Australia T20 captain in place of Aaron Finch
Smith has been in tremendous form in all three formats of late. Finch suffered an injury during the series against India recently and finds himself axed from the T20I squad for the T20 World Cup. Smith took over Test and One-Day International (ODI) captaincy from Michael Clarke, who decided to quit international cricket after Ashes 2015. Smith after taking over as skipper, has led Australia to series wins over West Indies and New Zealand. He will be entrusted to help Australia win the T20 World Cup, which is the only trophy that has eluded them so far.
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