STEVE Smith’s dream debut as Test captain has further complicated the issue of whether Tasmanian George Bailey will lead Australia into its first World Cup on home soil in 23 years.
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While regular One-Day International captain Michael Clarke clings to hope he can recover from hamstring surgery to lead the team onto the MCG on February 14, speculation is growing about who else would take the reins for the world’s third-largest sporting event.
Clarke is expected to be named in Australia’s 15-man squad next month, but with reports suggesting he may even struggle to make the Test tour of the West Indies following the World Cup, the expectation is the national selection panel will have to appoint a replacement captain.
Smith’s handling of the Test captaincy in Brisbane has added to growing sentiment that the 25-year-old should get the one-day job too, which would be a snub for regular vice-captain Bailey, 32.
‘‘There’s no doubt I can see him as captain in all forms,’’ said fast bowler Ryan Harris.
‘‘We will see what happens, there is obviously a big World Cup coming up. George Bailey’s done it in the absence of Michael Clarke and I think he has done a pretty good job. But with Steve Smith heading that way it might be a good idea to give it to him.’’
Former World Cup-winning captain Allan Border said as much even before Smith’s foray into leading the national team produced a sublime 100 and a win inside four days against India.
Yet the Australian hierarchy faces a political quandary because unlike Smith’s leap-frogging of Brad Haddin for the Test gig – which could be explained by the wicketkeeper’s age – Bailey has done a commendable job when deputising for Clarke as recently as last month.
Cricket Australia has also invested plenty in Bailey as a leader, thrusting the Twenty20 captaincy onto him in his first match for Australia in any format before he gave it away in September in an effort to play more four-day cricket.
Despite questions about his form, Bailey was in charge when Australia returned to No.1 in the ICC one-day standings with a series win over South Africa last month.
And he was considered ahead of Smith in the reckoning for a spot in Australia’s top six in that campaign, with Smith left out of the first game in Perth before coming in for an injured Clarke in match two.
One of only two Australians in the ICC ODI team of the year (along with fellow Launcestonian James Faulkner), Bailey told The Examiner last week he wasn’t yet assured of a place in the World Cup team, let alone as captain.
He added: ‘‘It would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play in a World Cup in your own country. To have the honour of leading that team — whoever does that — it would be a huge thrill for them, particularly given the way the team is placed.’’
