Ind vs Aus: Thrilled Steven Smith promises aggression as captain

Brisbane One of the youngest ever to take over as Australias Test captain allrounder Steve Smith today said getting elevated to the position was an amazing thrill even as he promised to be an aggressive and positive leader in the ongoing Test series against IndiaSmith was named captain today owing to regular skipper Michael Clarkes injury breakdown during the first Test which the hosts won by 48 runs I am only a temporary solution at the moment since Michael is out injured unfortunately the 25yearold Smith told reporters after his appointment todaySteven Smith Pic AFPIts been a pretty whirlwind 18 months for me personally and for the team and for this to come up so quickly its an amazing thrill something that I guess I have always dreamt of doing he saidSmith aged 25 years and 195 days becomes Australias youngest Test captain since Kim Hughes took over the leadership in March 1979 at 25 years and 57 days He is the thirdyoungest in Australian cricket history to get the job behind Ian Craig who was just 22 when he took over in 1958The allrounder who smashed 162 not out in the first innings and was 52 not out in the second essay of the opening Test became the 45th Test captain of the side The second Test of the fourmatch series starts here on Wednesday I have told the boys that I have no intentions of changing any plans I think we have come a long way and we are playing some good cricket so we are going to continue with that aggressive and positive brand of cricket Smith saidWhen we cross the line we are not friends with the opposition Its all about going out there and trying to win a cricket game and being as aggressive and positive as we can be Thats something we have done really well recently and I have no intentions of changing the way we are going about our business he saidThe babyfaced youngster said he has got the full backing of Clarke whose cricketing future has been thrown into jeopardy due to nagging hamstring and back injuries I spoke with Michael this morning He sent me a text and told me give me a buzz when you are free I gave him a call and he is very proud of me He is just really excited for me to lead Australia this week he saidAs a captain first and foremost I will try and lead from the front with my performance on the field With regards to tactics I think we have been pretty good this year Pup Clarke has been amazing with what he has done and I dont really feel the need for any big change there Smith added Smith also spoke of the support he has received from vicecaptain Brad Haddin the veteran wicketkeeperbatsman who was tipped to lead the team following Clarkes injuryI am extremely close to Brad and when I told him yesterday that national selection Panel Chairman Rod Marsh had called me he was over the moon for me and proud as punch I am certainly looking to Brad out there as Michael always does He is a terrific teammate and has got a great cricket brain too He is someone on whom I can lean on out in the middle for sure he saidSpeaking about what he would bring to the table as captain Smith said even while being just a team member he always tried to think like a leader Even when I am just a player on the field I have my brain thinking as a captain all the time I try to think what the situation needs and sometimes I throw some thoughts over to Michael and Brad and see where we go from there he saidAsked about his evolution as a player Smith said Patience is big word for me I dont try to hit every single ball like the way I did when I first stated I have had a bit of leadership experience with New South Wales and the Sydney Sixers In Sixers I had some older heads there with Brett Lee and Stuart MacGill and to lead those guys was a big thrill for me he recalledSmith found the full backing from coach Darren Lehmann He has always had the qualities of leadership He has led New South Wales and Sydney Sixers and he has led them well And it is just now about being captain in state cricket it is also about how he goes about with this group How he gels with his teammates and what he brings to the table he saidObviously with a young leader like him we are looking at the future and thinking long term But we also need to play well in the shortterm and need to play well here in Brisbane and in this current series he addedWhen asked how much advice the young captain will receive from him Lehmann replied The same as Michael We discuss strategy beforehand but after going on the field he takes over It will be pretty much the same He is the captain of Australia and we are here to provide him and his team what they need to win out there It will all be his calls He will get some right and some wrong which happens with everybodyTeam performance chief Pat Howard meanwhile stated clearly that this was only a Test appointment at the moment despite the 2015 ODI World Cup less than two months away and Clarkes availability a major doubt In the earlier situation Clarke had a short term injury So it was going to be Brad in case he was not available for the first Test This is going to be a longer term injury now and the Board have shown their hand This is a longterm solution Howard saidRegarding the World Cup we have specifically quarantined that We will get better prognosis over Clarkes injury over the next 48 hours Meanwhile George Bailey has done a fantastic job as ODI captain in his absence We are number one ODI team in the world and we have won the last two ODI series we played And this decision and announcement was only about the Test captaincy he signed off