Pat Cummins will lead Australia in the Ashes against england after fast bowler is named as new Test captain in place of disgraced Tim Paine
- Pat Cummins replaced Tim Paine who resigned over sexting scandal last week
- Former captain lost job over sexually explicit texts to a female colleague
- Paine's predecessor Steve Smith will serve as Cummins' deputy for the Ashes
- Cummins is first bowler to captain Australia since the great Richie Benaud
Australia have confirmed that pace bowler Pat Cummins will be their Test captain for the Ashes, with former skipper Steve Smith as his deputy.
Cummins, 28, replaces Tim Paine who lost the job over historical, sexually explicit texts to a female colleague.
‘I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer,’ said Cummins.
Cricket Australia have named fast bowler Pat Cummins as their new Test captain
Tim Paine announced his resignation in a statement last week at a teary press conference
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‘I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim has given the group in the past few years.
‘With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through, we are a strong and tightly-knit group.’
Smith, Paine’s predecessor in the post, was himself sacked in 2018 for his part in a ball-tampering row.
Cummins said he will aim to provide the same leadership Paine provided in his spell
Former Australia captain Steve Smith will serve as Cummins' deputy, Cricket Australia said
Cummins is the first bowler to be named Australia captain since the great legspinner Richie Benaud in 1964.
He acknowledged there would be no little scrutiny during the series given what has happened with his two predecessors, saying: ‘When it comes to moral character, I am my own harshest judge.’
The first Test starts in Brisbane on December 8.
Tim Paine's rise and dramatic fall in sexting scandal
Australian captain Tim Paine walks to change ends during a cricket test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, in Sydney, Australia on Jan. 9, 2021
2010: Tim Paine makes his Test debut against Pakistan, replacing injured Brad Haddin, but is dumped upon the incumbent's return
April 2016: Paine marries Bonnie Maggs
November 17, 2017: Granted shock recall for Ashes series
November 22-23, 2017: Paine sends lewd messages to a female coworker on the eve and morning of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. The pair had exchanged texts throughout the year
January 2018: Selected for squad to tour South Africa
March 25, 2018: Appointed interim captain after Steve Smith and David Warner stood down over 'sandpapergate' ball tampering scandal
March 28, 2018: Paine is appointed captain for the 4th Test of the series, becoming the 46th captain of the Australian side
April 2018: Awarded a national contract by Cricket Australia
June 2018: Cricket Australia and Cricket Tasmania become aware of the messages and launch an investigation, following a complaint from the woman. Paine claims he was exonerated during the investigation. His wife Bonnie was aware of the messages but chose to stick by him
2018 - 2021: Paine continues as Test captain, retaining the Ashes in England in 2019
November 19, 2021: Paine steps down as full details of the explicit messages surface
