Fast bowler Pat Cummins has been named Australia’s new Test captain ahead of the Ashes series.

The follows the resignation of Tim Paine last week due to a sexting scandal.

Former skipper Steve Smith was named vice-captain.

“Pat is an outstanding player and leader – he has earned enormous respect from his teammates and from all corners of the game for his attitude and achievements, both on and off the field,” Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said in a statement.

Cummins becomes the 47th captain of the Australian Test team while Smith returns to a key leadership role, having been forced to stand down as skipper for his part in the “Sandpaper-gate” ball-tampering scandal of 2018.

“I am honoured to accept this role ahead of what will be a massive Ashes summer,” Cummins (28) said in the CA statement, with the first Ashes Test against England starting on 8 December. “I hope I can provide the same leadership Tim has given the group in the past few years.

“With Steve and I as captains, a number of very senior players in this squad and some great young talent coming through, we are a strong and tightly-knit group.”

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