Australia hand Test captaincy to young gun Smith

Twenty-five-year-old Steven Smith will captain Australia against India at the Gabba from Wednesday in Michael Clarke's absence, Cricket Australia announced Monday.

With regular skipper Clarke expected to miss the rest of the four-match Test series due to injury, Smith was handed the job after Australia's first Test victory in Adelaide on Saturday.

Batsman Smith, aged 25 years and 195 days, becomes Australia's youngest Test captain since Kim Hughes who was named in 1979 at 25 years and 57 days, and the third-youngest all-time.

Smith smashed 162 not out in the first innings and was 52 not out in the second.

CA looked to the long term and officially first appointed Smith vice-captain on Monday and then named him to lead the Test side.

Veteran wicket-keeper Brad Haddin who led Australia on the final day of the Adelaide game will serve as deputy in Brisbane.

National selector Rod Marsh said: "These are difficult circumstances given Michael's injury and the fact that we don't know how long he will be out of the game.

"What we do know is that it won't be an overnight fix so after a lot of thought we have taken the opportunity to appoint an emerging young leader as captain until such time as Michael regains fitness and returns to the side.

"We congratulate Steve on the wonderful honour of leading his country. On Wednesday he will become Australia's 45th Test captain and at the age of 25 will become one of our youngest leaders.

"He is an exceptional young man who is highly regarded by the National Selection Panel not only for his fine performances with the bat but also his maturity and clear leadership potential."

Marsh paid tribute to Haddin, 37, saying he had "done an exceptional job as vice-captain since assuming the role last year and will provide strong support to Steve just as he has done for Michael.

"There was a strong argument for Brad to assume the captaincy until Michael returns, but given we don't know how long that will be, we felt the time was right to take a longer-term view and give a young player this chance."

CA chairman Wally Edwards said: "Steve is an impressive young leader who deserves high praise for his temperament and on-field performances to date."

Clarke's immediate playing future is up in the air and he is now focusing on getting fit for the World Cup, which starts in Australia and New Zealand on February 14.

He was disconsolate following Australia's 48-run first Adelaide Test win over India after being forced off with a torn right hamstring.

If Clarke returns he will do so as captain, with Smith serving as deputy, CA said.

Smith will be a popular choice as captain, a position dubbed the "second highest office" after that of the Prime Minister in cricket-mad Australia.

The right-handed batsman and part-time legspinner has scored a mountain of runs over the past 12 months and shown an impressive poise under fire at odds with his boyish features.

Smith has prior experience as a skipper, leading New South Wales state in domestic competition and the Sydney Sixers in the local Twenty20 league.

Since carving up Sydney's grade cricket scene as a teenager, Smith has long been marked for big things, and made his first class debut for New South Wales at the age of 18.

By 21, he had represented Australia in all Test, one-day international and T20 teams, making his test debut against Pakistan at Lord's in 2010, and scoring 77 in his second Test against the same opponents at Leeds.

He brings impressive form into his debut as captain, the second Test starting in Brisbane on Saturday, having blasted an unbeaten 162 in the first innings in Adelaide and 52, also unbeaten, in the second.

Australia lead the four-Test series 1-0. The teams play the third Test in Melbourne on Dec. 26 and the final match in Sydney from Jan. 6.

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