Cricket world fumes over Australia's new vice-captaincy choice

What does Nathan Lyon have to do before he’s considered for a leadership role?

That was the question on everyone’s minds when Australia announced two new vice-captains for the two-Test series against Sri Lanka.

Pat Cummins and Travis Head were elevated to captain Tim Paine’s deputies on Tuesday night.

The elevations are only temporary, brought into the role with Mitch Marsh dropped and Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the Sri Lankan two-Test series with a back injury.

“It is a fitting reward for their professionalism and dedication to drive the elite standards of the Australian Men’s Test team,” chief selector Trevor Hohns said.

“Travis is an experienced state captain who has had a reasonable amount of success with South Australia and the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL.

“Pat is a fine young man who displays strong leadership though his actions on and off the cricket field.”

But the pair’s appointment sees them handed the roles over permanent star Lyon, Usman Khawaja and Mitchell Starc.

Head’s elevation, in particular, was met with confusion.

Former Test paceman Rodney Hogg tweeted: “How could Head be vice-captain of Australian Test team?”

“Lyon has to be vice captain purely just on his great service to the baggy green.”

Former Test captain Ian Chappell agreed, questioning why we even need two vice-captains at all.

“It hasn’t worked out too well so far, the two vice-captains. They’ve both disappeared,” Chappell told Macquarie Sports Radio.

“I think you’re better off to let guys establish themselves and you’re quite right about Travis Head – he hasn’t done that yet.

“Pat Cummins I think is a terrific young bloke and it’s always good to get some input from the bowlers. But yeah, I am a bit surprised about Travis Head.”

Asked if Australia needed two vice-captains, Chappell said: “No, I don’t.

“The way they’ve gone about it – I’m not sure how they’ve done it this time – but getting the team to decide firstly who should be the candidates and then decide which ones get the job … I guess it shows what a mess they’re in really at the moment, with lack of experience and lack of guys holding down the job.”

Hogg and Chappell weren’t alone in criticising the appointments.

Cummins’ elevation comes just three weeks after he said he had no eyes on being the team’s captain, preparing to focus only on his bowling.

“I feel like I’m too busy in the game bowling and when I’m batting putting all my effort into that,” Cummins said earlier this month.

“And when I’m not doing it I’m usually off with the fairies trying to recover. So I don’t think I would make a very good captain at the moment.”

Cricket Australia did however reveal earlier this summer that the vice-captaincy need not be a pathway to the top job going forward.

Meanwhile Head’s elevation all but guarantees his spot in Australia’s side for the Gabba Test, after he got starts against India.

He has played just six Tests for Australia, only making his debut in the UAE against Pakistan in October.

“Travis was also Captain of the Australia A One Day team on their tour of India,” Hohns said.

“Travis was an impressive candidate when interviewed during the leadership identification process we conducted last year.

“He has also continued to develop his leadership qualities since joining the Australian Men’s Test team.”