Star Australian batter Steve Smith has voiced his confidence in Pat Cummins’ leadership, praising the fast bowler’s impact as captain. Cummins took on the role amid a turbulent period for Australian cricket after Tim Paine’s resignation, leading to scepticism about appointing a pacer as captain. However, the 31-year-old has excelled, notably securing the World Test Championship title against India and retaining the Ashes in 2023, proving his critics wrong.

Reflecting on Pat Cummins’ leadership, Smith highlighted his composed and steady approach, which has fostered a positive team environment. Smith noted that Cummins’ calm demeanour not only brings stability but also boosts the morale of his teammates, who have rallied behind him.

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“He’s done a great job, hasn’t he? Over the last couple of years, he’s been supported by a fantastic group of players. We’re playing good cricket, and he’s really grown into the role. He’s calm, composed, and relaxed, and that has been crucial for us,” Steve Smith shared with Star Sports.

Modern-day Test master Steve Smith answers our question in an exclusive interview with Star Sports. #AskStar pic.twitter.com/ZcpP2bZkOe

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) November 12, 2024

In the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, set to kick off on November 22, Smith will return to his familiar spot at number four in the batting lineup. After David Warner’s Test retirement, Smith briefly experimented with an opening role but struggled to find consistency, amassing only 171 runs in four matches. For this series against India, the Australian selectors have opted for Nathan McSweeney to open with Usman Khawaja, restoring Smith to the middle order where he has thrived.

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Australia has yet to begin their training for the series, while India is already deep into their preparations. The Indian squad started training on November 12 at the WACA in Perth, with players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and KL Rahul gearing up for the challenge. The rest of the Indian team is expected to join them shortly as the countdown to this highly anticipated series continues.