Langer left out of picking next Test captain

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Australian men's cricket manager Justin Langer volition beryllium near retired of the committee that picks Tim Paine's replacement arsenic Test captain.

Cricket Australia said that selectors George Bailey and Tony Dodemaide, arsenic good arsenic CA committee subordinate Mel Jones, CEO Nick Hockley and seat Richard Freudenstein volition marque up the decision-making quintet.

Langer's omission is intriguing. His declaration arsenic nationalist manager is owed to expire mid-next year, and it's been speculated helium whitethorn discontinue aft the Ashes.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins is the front-runner for the role, with erstwhile skipper Steve Smith and Queensland standout Marnus Labuschagne the different contenders.

After serving a one-year playing prohibition and a two-year enactment ban, Smith is erstwhile again eligible to pb Australia and CA seat Richard Freudenstein said the 32-year-old would beryllium considered for the role.

"There is going to beryllium a precise thorough, and present rather quick, process," helium told reporters successful a property league alongside Hockley connected Saturday.

Paine endorsed Labuschagne arsenic a imaginable successor, saying: "He's got enactment successful him, there's nary uncertainty astir that – the mode helium goes astir it, the mode helium treats people, the mode helium works connected his game… with immoderate clip (he) volition go an fantabulous person for this squad.

Paine announces resignation from captaincy

"He's got immoderate existent earthy enactment quality and if that's harnessed and helped, I deliberation he'll beryllium a large captain."

But it's Cummins who seems astir apt to get the motion - he's the existent vice-captain, is well-liked and his spot successful the squad is nether nary menace whatsoever.

Two erstwhile captains - Greg Chappell and Steve Waugh - gave their endorsement to Cummins implicit the weekend.

"There's a spot much work and immoderate radical truly bask that and clasp it and immoderate radical find it a burden. But I deliberation with Pat Cummins, he'll clasp it," Waugh said.

No timeline has been acceptable for erstwhile the caller skipper volition beryllium confirmed, but the determination is expected to beryllium made successful the adjacent fewer days.

Australia's Ashes bid against England begins astatine the Gabba connected December 8.

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