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Gilly, Roy thought Haddin would lead

Former Australian stars react to the appointment of Steve Smith to lead the Test team

Former Australian cricket stars Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds have admitted they thought Cricket Australia would have appointed Brad Haddin, and not Steve Smith, captain of the Test team in the absence of injured incumbent, Michael Clarke.

While maintaining their faith in Smith’s ability to perform in the role for the remainder of the Commonwealth Bank Tes Series against India, Gilchrist said he was initially ‘shocked’ by the decision and Symonds queried the timing.

Gilchrist is better placed than most to comment on the subject given he stood in as skipper for six Tests during his illustrious career.

He filled in as skipper for Steve Waugh on three occasions and also led Australia to a famous series victory in India with Ricky Ponting out injured in 2004.

With the length of Clarke’s absence still unclear after undergoing surgery on his hamstring on Monday, Gilchrist expected fellow gloveman Haddin to be given the role.

However, he also believes Smith has the support around him to ensure he can be an effective leader.

“I was a little bit surprised (with Smith’s appointment),” Gilchrist told cricket.com.au during the Twenty20 exhibition match against Perth Scorchers in Perth on Monday.

“I’m not questioning his credentials, but I thought they’d maybe just keep letting him do what he’s doing so well, and that’s batting, and maybe let Haddin do it just in this interim period of uncertainty around Pup.

“It’s a great acknowledgement to the future of Australian cricket and a great acknowledgement of Steve Smith’s qualities and capabilities. It’s very exciting.

“I’m not disappointed, I’m just a little shocked they went that way straight away, but I’m very excited to watch and see how that goes.”

The 96-Test veteran expects Smith to implement a similar style to Clarke for the remainder of the series against India, starting with the second Test on Wednesday.

“It was obviously a really positive result in the Test in Adelaide,” Gilchrist said.

“He’s got a great group there. Darren Lehmann is a great thinker of the game, Hadds will be a huge support, Davey Warner and all the players will get around him and I think he’ll just be trying to guide it the same way it’s been going under Pup’s leadership.

“I’d be surprised if there are radical changes.”

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Former Australia allrounder Symonds, reflecting on his time playing under Ponting, said the added responsibility could be an unnecessary burden for Smith.

“I thought they’d just leave (Smith) to bat because he’s batting so well and then just make Brad Haddin captain,” Symonds told cricket.com.au after his return to the cricket field in Monday’s exhibition match.

“I would have just left him to keep playing in the same vein he’s in, but you never know, he might really enjoy being captain and he may play better.

“Good luck to him, I hope it works out well for him, but it’s a different type of pressure being captain having talked to Ricky and others about it.

“You’re constantly busy and people want a piece of you all day every day, so it will be interesting to see how he handles it.”

Gilchrist and Symonds’s former teammates Justin Langer, who was Australia’s batting coach when Smith made his international debut in 2010, and Michael Kasprowicz, a current Cricket Australia Director and former Australian fast bowler, are less concerned by the added pressure Smith now faces.

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“For the bigger picture, I think it’s a really good decision,” Langer told cricket.com.au on Monday.

“The thing I admire most about Steve Smith is how much he’s improved, not only as a batsman, but also as a person.

“He’s really matured and I think it’s a good decision. Hopefully Michael won’t be out for too long, but looking forward I think (Smith) will be groomed nicely and I really wish him well.”

Kasprowicz said Smith came highly recommended and reinforced that selectors ‘thought long and hard’ before Smith was appointed Test vice-captain - effectively captain while Clarke is sidelined.

“I’m really comfortable with all the people involved in the decision-making process, we really looked at the whole process and it’s definitely the right result.”

“Within the team, the feedback I’ve heard from the players that I speak to, is that he’s really developed quickly.

“Given the unfortunate circumstances of Michael Clarke’s injury, there’s a sense of opportunity about it and someone like Steve Smith is certainly going to be up for it.”