Josh Hazlewood and Shaun Marsh are in the race to become Tim Paine's deputy in Test cricket for Australia. The ball tampering controversy earlier this year against South Africa tainted the image of Australian cricket in the world stage.
Subsequently, Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were banned by cricket Australia which gave an opportunity to Tim Paine to lead Australia in the final Test match Johannesburg.
Hazlewood's long-time teammate Pat Cummins says the 27-year-old "is a really good thinker about the game" and has the demeanour required to carry out the duties of deputy as Australia look to the next generation of leaders to step up in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal.
"He's really calm, really consistent, open, honest and a really good role model," Cummins told cricket.com.au.
"The way he goes about playing, nothing fazes him.
"As a fast bowler, you can have a lot of days in the dirt where you bowl all day and you've got to wake up and do it all again tomorrow. But he just gets on with it, there's no fuss."
Cummins dismissed any suggestion that Hazlewood doesn't have the tactical acumen to be a good vice-captain, saying he's a regular contributor in strategy discussions, both batting and bowling.
"He's a really good thinker about the game with fielding positions, even when we're off the field," Cummins said.
"Sometimes (fast bowlers are) pretty cooked (after bowling) and we just watch the game and start to get our heads around having to bat or recovering from bowling."
"But he's straight there watching and he has some really good ideas about how to approach an innings.
"He's a really good thinker, but at the same time he's really chilled out and relaxed and really professional in everything he does.
"(As a bowler) you've got to know your own game, but you've got to know what batsmen are going to do as well. Whether he's got a title next to his name or not, as a leader, that's what he brings.
"He can speak about other batsmen and think like a batsman, even if it's through bowling to them rather than being a batsman himself."
Cummins who is unlikely to be appointed as Paine's deputy has also thrown his support behind his teammates Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Marsh for the post.
(Inputs From Cricket Australia)
