Ravi Shastri pointed out Steve Smith’s remarkable ability to adapt and improvise, expecting his captaincy in the first Ashes Test in Perth to bring out his best performance.

Cricket Australia announced on Monday that designated skipper Pat Cummins will miss the opening Test due to a lumbar bone stress injury in his back. With Cummins sidelined for the fixture starting on November 21, Smith will step in as captain.

Smith previously led Australia from 2015 to 2018 in 32 Tests, achieving 17 wins, 10 losses, and five draws. Post his tenure, Smith occasionally took up the captaincy role. His batting form has been outstanding, amassing 4,139 runs in 40 Tests, with an average of 68.98, including 17 centuries and 14 fifties, and a highest score of 239.

Shastri, who observed Smith’s leadership d

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