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The elevation of Pat Cummins to the Test captaincy, with Steve Smith as his deputy, was always going to spark plenty of comment.

REACTION TO NEW AUSTRALIAN TEST LEADERSHIP

"Yes they have the right man for the Australian captaincy job but it is a tougher job for a fast bowler." - former Australian captain Mark Taylor, 2GB

"They say in politics that one must never waste a crisis. The Paine situation was a golden opportunity for the selectors to groom more than one leader. I am surprised they have gone back to Steve Smith ... I would have named Marnus Labuschagne as Cummins' deputy." - Former Australian captain Greg Chappell, Sydney Morning Herald

"The only concern I have is if ... Pat's the standout fast bowler, is he going to keep bowling himself? Because the team is going to need it. Or will he be worried about what people are going to think if he just keeps himself on the whole time? That's where vice captain's role is really important in this whole thing." - Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting, CA website

"The one positive is Pat Cummins will get the nod as Australia's next Test captain ... (Steve Smith's) second chance is getting to play for Australia again and in my opinion announcing him as vice-captain opens up CA for ridicule and criticism, and they should throw the code of conduct out the window." - legspin great Shane Warne on Friday morning, before the captaincy announcement, News Corp

"I 100 per cent agree with what @ShaneWarne has to say." - former Australian player Damien Martyn, Twitter.