Australia skipper Steve Smith might not lead his side when India will be touring Australia in January. David Warner might have to step up in that occasion and lead the team against the visitors in the ODIs.
India are supposed to leave for Australia on 5 January, 2016. They are supposed to play five ODIs and three T20 international in this tour.
"He keeps telling me he is 26 but [in Hobart] he was running as though he is 36. The pressure of captaincy is quite large. We have to look at that but we get a decent break now with two weeks off. He is not playing BBL so he gets a good break," Australia head coach Darren Lehman was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo on Sunday after Australia registered a crushing victory over the hapless West Indies.
"The ODIs (against India) are important to us and then the T20 World Cup, so I can't see him getting a break until the end of the summer, unless we play really well or the niggles get worse. I'm no medical expert but [rest] is what they are saying. They will say what he can or can't do and if I disagree with it he plays and if I don't he might not play."
Lehmann has also praised Smith as a skipper of the Australian team. Young Smith has done exceptionally well when it came to leading Australia to some wonderful series victories in the recent past. Smith had to take over the duties of the captaincy from Michael Clarke as he announced retirement after the ICC World Cup 2015 earlier this year.
"Doing it easy - much easier when you win. It was a tough series against New Zealand while this was a less stressful Test match, [but] he has been flying with the extra demands," Lehmann added.
"He has good mentors and good advice from former captains who are helping with how to handle his time and the demands which are so much greater than just a player. Players love what he brings to the table."
India last toured Australia exactly a year ago and that tour did not turn out to be fruitful for the visitors, but this time around they will be charged up to achieve some positive results as ICC World T20 2016 will be in the horizon when these two titans clash in January.
