‘What a mess’: Legend laments lack of Test leaders as vice-captains revealed

Cricket legend Ian Chappell has questioned a lack of suitable leadership among the current Australian Test team, lamenting the selection of Travis Head as vice-captain.

The 25-year-old, six-Test rookie was named a new vice-captain of the team on Tuesday, sharing the duties with fast bowler Pat Cummins. They will deputise captain Tim Paine for the first time during the Sri Lanka series, starting Thursday in Brisbane.

Head’s selection as a vice-captain in particular was somewhat of a surprise to outsiders, given his lack of Test experience and the fact he has a high score of 72.

He’s been touted as a leader for some years now at state level, but there’s a feeling he’s been handed the Australian vice-captaincy prematurely.

Chappell agrees.

“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,” Chappell said on Macquarie Sports Radio.

“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.”

The two new vice-captains were named after the withdrawal of Josh Hazlewood through injury.

Mitchell Marsh had also been vice-captain of the team before being dropped from the squad.

Chappell also questioned why the team needed two vice-captains as well as a captain.

“It hasn’t worked out too well so far, the two vice-captains. They’ve both (Hazlewood and Marsh) disappeared,” he said.

“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.”