Rating the Australian ODI captains in the last two decades

#4 Steve Smith (2015-present) - 5/10

Steve Smith does not have a great record as captain

Australia have always made their best batsman their captain and hence it was not a surprise when Steve Smith was made captain following Michael Clarke’s retirement from ODI cricket. Smith’s tenure as the captain has not seen the Australian ODI side dominate to the same degree as some of his illustrious predecessors but perhaps it is a bit too early to judge him, considering the fact that he has only captained in 41 games so far.

He has won 23 of them, which is a rather modest return.

A 5-0 blanking at the hands of South Africa would have been an unthinkable result for any of Australia’s previous captains and that particular series remains a blot on Smith’s captaincy tenure so far. On the other hand, the 4-1 win against India at home was a high point.

Australia have invested in Smith and a few poor results will not pose any great danger to his captaincy. However, the team’s showing in the 2019 World Cup might go a long way in deciding Smith’s legacy as Australia’s ODI captain. As of now, he is nowhere near the other three on this list.