Australia v India: 1st Test - Day 1
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 17: Tim Paine of Australia, Pat Cummins of Australia, Steve Smith of Australia and Marnus Labuschagne of Australia after the signing of the national anthem during day one of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 17, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Australia v India: 1st Test - Day 1

The race to become Australia's next Test captain seems to be a race between two.

With Tim Paine announcing he would stand down from the role last Friday, Australia will need to name a new captain by the end of the week as they prepare for a warm-up game in Brisbane on December 1 against Australia A.

That will be followed by the start of the Ashes at the Gabba on December 8.

The two names mentioned for the role have been Pat Cummins, who is the current vice-captain, and Steve Smith, who is the former captain of the Australian team before losing the job in the fallout from the infamous 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

But Cummins has received glowing reports on what he'd bring to the role from a Sheffield Shield teammate, and a rival, in comments which are sure to do his chances no harm.

While Cummins didn't play in the New South Wales and Victoria match at the Sydney Cricket Ground this week - a match which ultimately was drawn after weather interruptions, James Pattinson and current New South Wales skipper Kurtis Patterson said Cummins would be suited to the job immensely.

Patterson said he was very calm.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 23: Kurtis Patterson and Peter Nevill of the Blues celebrate winning the Matador BBQs One Day Cup Final match between Queensland and New South Wales at North Sydney Oval on October 23, 2016 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

“He’s very calm,” Patterson said.

“Especially with Test cricket, there is obviously a fair bit of anxiety that can float around the change room.

I think one of the things I found was great with Pat was that he just takes that out of the room. He’s a very calming presence. He never overthinks anything or over-reacts to situations when they get tough, which they inevitably will.

I think that poise he has will rub off on the rest of the team, as it already does."

Pattinson said he has all the attributes to be an Australian captain.

“He’d be unbelievable,” Pattinson said.

“He’s got everything. He’s got the attributes of an Australian captain. He’s got a calm head, he’s very smart and he’s got a good cricket brain. He’s got a lot of friends in that group. He’s just a great person. He’d be fantastic if he was the one that was appointed.

“I know it’s probably gone against the grain to have a fast bowler but he’s the one guy who probably over the last two years has really dominated for Australia. Just the way he plays with passion and him as a person is someone you want as a leader as a group.

“The one thing is that he brings a team with him. Out on the field, you go out there with him and he sets the example.”

James Pattinson of Australia appeals for the wicket of Brendon McCullum of New Zealand during day three of the Test match between New Zealand and Australia at Hagley Oval on February 22, 2016 in Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
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Cummins is the world's number one Test bowler ahead of the Ashes series and has been excellent for the national team across all three formats in recent times.

He is coming off a blistering T20 World Cup where he was part of Australia's groundbreaking victory, however, it has never been like Australia to select fast bowler's as a captain.

The last captains of Australia's Test team - Tim Paine, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor have all been batsmen, while their deputies were also mainly in the top seven.