Steve Smith ready for challenge of being Australia test cricket captain
Baby-faced 25-year-old, who is third-youngest and 45th test skipper, can count on veterans as sounding boards
Nailing down a spot in Australia's batting order took patience for Steve Smith, but his elevation to captain of the test team has been virtually an overnight affair.
Long marked for big things, Smith was named Australia's 45th test captain on Monday in place of injured Michael Clarke and will have scarcely two days to digest the appointment before leading the team against India in the second test in Brisbane.
Though nominally a temporary replacement, the 25-year-old will lead for the remaining three tests against India and may yet hold the reins of the one-day team when Australia host the World Cup, the game's biggest global showpiece.
As a captain, I think first and foremost I'll try to lead from the front with my performance on the field
The third-youngest captain to ever lead the team, Smith will have to shoulder a huge burden of expectation as the holder of Australia's "second-highest office" after the prime minister.
Little wonder, he will take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach to leading over the rest of the India series.
"It's been a pretty whirlwind 18 months for me personally and I guess the whole team as well," Smith said on Monday. "As a captain, I think first and foremost I'll try to lead from the front with my performance on the field.