During Australia’s recent form slump (there’s no guarantee we’ve emerged), when blame was being apportioned, Smith’s captaincy was called to question.

It was a preposterous non-sequitur based on misguided expectation, like blaming Mandela for not eliminating evil, or an Australian rugby league captain for one forward pass that loses his team an entire Test series.

Here’s why Smith should lead Australia:

  1. He’s a cricketing savant. Smith is one of those rare champions whose deeds alone are catalytic. Their effect upon teammates is seismic. Whether they want to move or not, the ground shakes beneath them.
     
  2. He’s capable of the extraordinary. Like Steve Waugh, Smith will take up the cudgel himself and impose his massive will upon a game, and in the process, he’ll make history.
     
  3. Quite apart from his unusual and influential physical ability, Smith has the sort of leadership quality Mark Taylor had. He has high expectations, but he makes them known. While many sporting champions cannot possibly impart anything of their innate genius to others, Smith is a communicator. Though he’s capable of the extraordinary, he’s not some indecipherable, uncommunicative prodigy. Rather, he quietly asserts his will, and also invites input, knowing he’s responsible for the final decision.
     
  4. Tactically, he’s as astute and ruthless as Waugh or Clarke, but executes his strategies with the way of an affable assassin, like Taylor.
     
  5. Publicly, he’s proved to be balanced and of sound mind, even when asked to comment on controversial issues with the potential to make him look bad.

Ultimately, what Smith demonstrates in the way he executes his cricket is that he deserves to be in the team more than anyone else in the side, for a greater variety of reasons.

Therefore he is its natural leader. Talk of Warner taking over during the recent “crisis” was ludicrous, even given his recent character transformation.

Yesterday’s performance by Smith – the innings of 164 and that breathtaking catch – established powerfully why Smith is the captain of Australia and should remain so.