Pat Cummins has been appointed as Australia’s 47th Test captain while Steve Smith has been named his deputy ahead of the Ashes, scheduled to start on December 8 in Brisbane. Cummins will be the first pacer to captain Australia full time and also the first bowler since Richie Benaud to lead the country. Cummins, who has been the vice-captain of Australia for nearly two years, is set to take over the leadership duties a week after Tim Paine decided to resign as Test captain following a sexting scandal.