Processes to go before Steve Smith can become captain, says Justin Langer

SYDNEY: Australia head coach Justin Langer has stated that there are some processes to go through before Steve Smith could lead the side again. “Of course, we talked about a number of things,” Langer told Fox Sports.

Smith has led Australia in 51 ODIs, 34 Tests and eight T20Is. His 24-month leadership ban, which was imposed by Cricket Australia following the ball-tampering saga, expired in March this year.

“We’ve got so many options. Steve Smith has done a brilliant job in the past. There’s probably a bit of a process we need to go through until he becomes captain again. We’ll go through that,” said Langer. “When the English crowd gave him a standing ovation at The Oval last year – talk about earning respect … he’s doing all the right things to show leadership without a title at the moment,” added the head coach.

The subject about Smith’s captaincy has come to forefront once again after Matthew Wade was chosen to lead the side in the second T20I of the ongoing three-match series against India which the hosts have now lost. Wade, performed well with the bat during Sunday’s game which Australia lost by six wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Switch-hit not fair on bowlers: Ian Chappell

Former Australia skipper Ian Chappell has said that switch-hit is not fair on the bowlers and as a result, he has suggested that umpires should term the delivery as ‘dead-ball’ if the batsman tries to switch-hit.

Switch-hit has become a subject of debate yet again as the cricketing fraternity remains divided whether the shot is in the spirit of the game. For example, when a batsman plays switch-hit, he changes his grip, and becomes a left-handed batsman, sending field positions for a toss. Last week, Australia batsman Glenn Maxwell played a switch-hit off the bowling of India’s Kuldeep Yadav. While the shot was remarkable viewing, many once again said how it is unfair to the bowler.

“In this case, Maxwell faced up in his normal manner as a right-hander, but before Kuldeep Yadav delivered the ball, he altered his stance and grip on the bat to effectively become a left-hander. Maxwell’s shot was an amazing example of skill and superb hand-eye coordination, but was it fair? The answer is a resounding no, as far as I’m concerned,” ESPNCricinfo quoted Chappell as saying.