Australia named paceman Pat Cummins as their Test captain and Steve Smith as deputy on Friday after a sexting scandal led Tim Paine to quit the post last week, just ahead of the Ashes.
<h2>Paine takes break</h2>
On a dramatic day for Australian cricket, the Cummins&rsquo;s appointment came hours after it was announced that former captain Paine will take a break from the sport, ruling him out of the home Ashes series against old rivals England.&nbsp;
Cummins becomes the 47th captain of the Australian men&rsquo;s Test team while Smith returns to a key leadership role, having been forced to stand down as skipper for his part in the 2018 sandpaper-gate ball tampering scandal.&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/after-65-years-pat-cummins-is-the-first-pace-bowler-to-lead-australia-in-tests-23202451" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">After 65 years, Pat Cummins is the first pace bowler to lead Australia in Tests</a>
Cummins, 28, is the first fast bowler to lead Australia since 1956. Cummins is one of the world&rsquo;s premier bowlers. His 34 Tests have yielded 164 wickets at 21.59, to go with 111 ODI scalps and 42 in T20s. But he has little experience as a leader, despite being elevated to vice-captain in 2019.&nbsp;
After Paine&rsquo;s downfall for sending lewd text messages, Cummins knows that there will be intense scrutiny of his behaviour on and off the field, especially with the Ashes starting on December 8 in Brisbane. &ldquo;When it comes to moral character, I am my own harshest judge,&rdquo; said Cummins, who takes on one of the highest-profile roles in Australia.
<h2>&lsquo;I am not perfect&rsquo;</h2>
&ldquo;I am not perfect and there will be things that pop up, but as long as I can sleep at night, I am really comfortable with the rest of that.&rdquo;&nbsp;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/cricket/article/why-not-pat-cummins-as-australias-captain-23201976" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Why not Pat Cummins as Australia's captain?</a>
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On a dramatic day for Australian cricket, the Cummins’s appointment came hours after it was announced that former captain Paine will take a break from the sport, ruling him out of the home Ashes series against old rivals England

Cummins is Oz Test skipper, Smith his deputy

Paine takes break

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