Australia hand ODI captaincy to Pat Cummins, 1st pacer to lead in ODI side
Oct 18, 2022
Canberra [Australia], October 18 : Australian test captain Pat Cummins has been handed the additional responsibility to lead the Aussie team in the white ball format after Aaron Finch's retirement from ODI cricket last month.
The pacer becomes the first fast bowler to lead the Australian side in the 50-over format and only the second bowler after the late Shane Warne who led the team in the ODI's for 11 games in the nineties.
Australia are still to name a vice-captain to Pat Cummins and the announcement could be expected soon as the newly appointed captain will look to build a strong team with the ODI World Cup just a year away. The ICC ODI World Cup will be played in India between October and November 2023.
Cummins overpowered his teammates Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey and Glenn Maxwell in the race for the top job to become Australia's 27th ODI captain.
Australian opener David Warner was also in the reckoning but could not be cleared of his lifetime leadership ban handed over by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
"Pat has done an excellent job since taking on the captaincy of the Test side and we look forward to him leading the one-day team to the 2023 World Cup in India," said selection chief George Bailey as quoted by Cricket Australia.
Cummins will have big shoes to fill as Finch was extremely respected by his peers and was considered perfect for the ODI portfolio. However, a recent slump in ODI cricket prompted Finch to make way for new talent.
A point of concern for the Australian board will be the workload management of the lanky pacer given his prior commitment to play Tests for the team added with the recent addition of a leadership role.
The quick fiery pacer is currently with the Aussie T20 side to defend Australia's T20 title.
Australia's next ODI assignment is a three-game ODI Series against England that will take place next month, between the T20 World Cup and the home Test summer.
