Ex-Oz paceman Clark believes ODI captaincy must for Smith before taking Test reins

Former Australian fast-medium bowler Stuart Clark believes that all-rounder Steve Smith should serve as a captain for their ODI team as Test skippers Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke did before him.

Clark, the ex-test paceman and respected administrator, earmarked Smith as a future leader from his early days at domestic side New South Wales, and later made him captain of his Big Bash team.

Cricket Australia wants to avoid saddling 25-year-old Smith with the tag of 'Next Test Captain' and is banking on Brad Haddin being fit to lead the Test side against India next month in Clarke's absence, Stuff.co.nz reported.

However, the end of the World Cup campaign in March would seem a logical time to accelerate a succession plan that has come into sharp focus with Clarke's latest injury trouble.

George Bailey is acting captain in the 50-over format and should Clarke choose to concentrate on Tests after the World Cup, Smith could be handed the reins of the ODI team.

Clark said that if he was making the decision, he would probably go down the path they have seen with Clarke and Ponting and even Waugh to some extent before that, to make Smith captain of the ODI team for a little while.

The former paceman said that as much as George Bailey does a wonderful job, Smith is the long-term future, so he would like to see them go down that path and work his way through the ODI team as Ponting, Waugh and Clarke did.

Waugh and Ponting both captained the ODI team for two years before taking the Test reins, while Clarke took the ODI helm after the 2011 World Cup and became Test captain when Ponting retired two summers later.