Veteran fast bowler Tim Southee has resigned as New Zealand’s Test captain following the team’s 2-0 whitewash in a recent Test series against Sri Lanka. The decision came just days after the defeat, with Southee stating that his resignation was made in the team’s best interest. Having taken over the captaincy from Kane Williamson in December 2022, Southee led the Blackcaps in 14 Test? matche?s but felt it was time for a change in leadership after the challenging series loss.

Tim Southee’s career and captaincy performance

Southee, one of New Zealand’s most accomplished pacemen, has had an illustrious career sinc?e his Test debut in 2008. Over 102 Test matches, he has claim??ed an impressive 382 wickets. However, during his 14 matches as captain, Southee struggled to maintain his usual standards, taking 35 wickets at an average of 38.60, significantly higher than his career average of 28.99. His performance in Sri Lanka was particularly underwhelming, with only two wickets in 49 overs across the two matches, highlighting the strain of leading the team while managing his own form.

New captain to lead New Zealand against India

Opening batter Tom Latham has been named the new Test captain and will lead New Zealand in their upcoming three-match series against India, beginning on October 16. Latham, who previously captained the Blackcaps in nine Tests between 2020 and 2022, returns to the leadership role as New Zealand, the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) winners, currently sit s??ixth in the WTC standings. The series against table-topping India will take place in Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai, offering Latham a significa??nt challenge in his first assignment as full-time captain.

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Southee’s reflections on stepping down

Reflecting on his decision to step down, Southee emphasized his deep connection to the Test format and the privilege of leading his country. “Captaining the BLACKCAPS in a format that’s so special to me has been an absolute honour and privilege. I’ve always tried to put the team first throughout my career, and I believe this decision is the best for the team,” Southee was quoted as saying by India Today.

Southee further expressed his desire to focus on improving his on-field performances and returning to his best form, which he believes will best serve the team moving forward. He also voice?d his commitment to supporting his teammates, particularly the younger bowlers emerging on the international stage. Southee extended his well-wishes to Latham, expressing confidence in Latham’s leadership and offering his support throughout the transition.

“I believe the way I can best serve the team moving forward is focusing on my performances on the field and getting back to my best, to continue taking wickets and helping New Zealand win Test matches. I will, as I have always done, continue to support my teammates, especially the exciting young bowlers making their way on the international stage. I wish Tom all the best in the role and he knows I’ll be there to support him on his journey, as he has done for me over the years,” Southee concluded.

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Aakash Chopra, the renowned cricket commentator and analyst, has identified two potential successors to Rohit Sharma as the Test captain of the Indian cricket team.

Rohit Sharma’s leadership dilemma: The age factor

With Rohit, who is 37-year-old currently, leading the 16-member squad in the upcoming Test series against South Africa, speculation arises about his continuity, especially considering the possibility of his absence in the next World Test Championship cycle starting due to age factors.

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Aakash Chopra’s picks for succession

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra has highlighted the youthful vigor and leadership qualities of Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. He envisioned them as strong contenders to fill the significant void Rohit’s potential departure could create. While emphasizing the long-term perspective, the Agra-born cricketer further refrained from making definitive predictions but acknowledges Gill and Pant as players with the potential to take on the captaincy role when the time comes.

“I am talking about extremely long-term, it could be Shubman Gill. I am not talking about now, I am talking about the distant future. It could be Rishabh Pant. Rishabh Pant as a Test cricketer is 24-carat gold,” Chopra said.

“So he could also be the one. He is a game changer. So I will look towards one of these two once Rohit says he is done with Test cricket and that you can appoint someone else as the skipper,” the 46-year-ol concluded.

Gill will be captaining the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) edition, showcasing his leadership abi??lities. O?n the other hand, Pant, although having led India in T20Is, is yet to captain the team in the Test format.

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Ever since Virat Kohli left India’s Test captaincy, quite a few names have come up as potential candidates to replace the Delhi-lad in the longest format. Several veteran cricketers have suggested their picks regarding the future Test captain of India. Following the bandwagon, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting ha??s also sha?red his thoughts on the red-hot topic.

Ponting has backed star Indian opener Rohit Sharma, explaining that Rohit’s success with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) is why he should be named as Kohli’s successor. Notably, Rohit is the frontrunner to replace Kohli as India Test skipper, especially after being named the new white-ball captain for India.

“I think the proof is in the pudding with what he has done at the Mumbai Indians since that moment on. He has been a very successful leader there and has been when he has led India on a few occasions as well,” said Ponting in conversation with former England Women cricketer Isa Guha on The ICC Review show.

Ponting spoke about Rohit’s comeback in the longest format in the last couple of years, lavishing praise on the Mumbaikar for being consistent. Although, the Tasmanian stressed that it is up to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) whether they want to split the roles or continue with one captain across formats.

“If I go back to what I said at the start about being on top of your game when you take over a captaincy role, then it is pretty hard to argue after what he has done with his Test cricket in the last 2-3 years. He has played as well as anybody in the world through that period of time, and we know how good he is as a white-ball player. They (BCCI) will have a decision to make what they want to do with their roles as well, whether they split roles or they want to keep the same captain for all formats,” added Ponting.

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On Saturday, Indian star Virat Kohli took everyone by surprise as he stepped down from Test captaincy. Kohli, who left the T20I captaincy before being replaced as ODI skipper by Rohit Sharma last year, enjoyed a tremendous time as Team India’s leader.

Kohli’s major announcement came a day after India’s Test series defeat against South Africa. Many fans and experts reckoned the Indian team to win a maiden Test series in the rainbow nation, but Dean Elgar’s side outplayed the visitors and clinched the series 2-1.

Notably, Kohli took over the reins from MS Dhoni in 2015 and led from the front to take the team to newer h??eights and memorable triumphs. The 33-year-old ended the Test captaincy as the most successful skipper in Indian cricket. Under him, India won the most 40 Tests, 13 m??ore than the previous best Dhoni.

When it comes to the overall records, Kohli is the fourth most successful Test skipper after Graeme Smith (53 wins), Ricky Ponting (48 wins), and Steve Waugh (41 wins).On that note, let’s look at Kohli’s records and achievements as India’s Test captain

• 20 centuries â€?Kohli smashed 20 Test centuries as captain, which is the second-most for any player after Graeme Smith (25).
• 7 double hundreds â€?Kohli holds the record of hitting most double tons in Test cricket as a captain. He has seven double centuries to his name in red-ball cricket â€?all came after he became the leader of India in Tests.
• 16 away Test wins â€?Under Kohli, India won 16 Tests in away conditions which is the highest after former skipper Sourav Ganguly, who had won 11 Tests.
• First Asian captain â€?In 2019, Kohli became not only the first Indian but also the first Asian captain to record a Test series win in Australia.
• 5864 runs â€?Kohli has 5864 runs to his name as captain, which is the highest among Indians. Overall, he sits at the fourth spot after Graeme Smith (8659), Allan Border (6623) and Ricky Ponting (6542).

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Australia’s Tim Paine has stepped down from captaincy of his national Test team ?amid a shocking scandal where he sent le??wd messages to a female colleague.

Paine, who got married to a Musical celebrity Bonnie Maggs in 2016, was investigate??d by Cricket Australia in 2018 after the staffer complained, but cleared of misconduct and the matter kept secret.

Back in 2017, when Paine was first made the Australian Test skippe?r, he began sending flirtatious text messages to an employee at Cricket Tasmania.

“Will you want to taste my d**?? F**k me, I’m seriously hard,” read one of the messages he se?nt to the female co-worke??r.

Tim Paine’s lewd text exchange

PAINE: Partying like a rockstar. I like good girl… but this other one sounds interesting.

WOMAN: When I’m good I’m good. When I am bad I am brilliant.

PAINE: Brilliantly bad??

WOMAN: I will think naughty thoughts about y??ou whilst we wat?ch the TV.

PAINE: I’m cracking! Ha ha. Naughty thoughts like what? I’m about to give something firm a pullâ€?/p>

WOMAN: Ha, sorry I’m getting ready for work â€?it’s a big day for us kids.

PAINE: Will you want to taste my ***?? F*** me, I’m seriously hard.

WOMAN: I thought we were resting hands.

PAINE: Can’t rest them when I’m this hard!! Need to ease the tension â€?Finish me off with those lips then 😉

On Friday (November 19, 2021), Tim announced hi??s resignation as Australia Test captain in a press conference at Hobart.

“It’s an incredibly difficult decision, but the right one for me, my family, and cricket,'” he tearfully apologised.

The wicketkeeper-batter was appointed Australia Test skipper after the infamous ball-tampering scandal against South Africa in Cape Town, involving former skipper Steve Smith, then vice-captain David Warner and middle-order batter Cameron Bancroft.

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