Oz put faith in Smith as their leader for the future

Rod Marsh, Australia's national selector, spoke of a "longer-term view" when he announced Steve Smith as the 45th man to lead his country's test team.

At the age of 25 Smith became the third-youngest player to captain Australia, against India for the remaining tests. The role has high significance in his country's psyche, and has now been given even greater moral authority by the dignified conduct of Michael Clarke in recent weeks.

The fact that Clarke is ruled out for the series, after surgery on his hamstring, prompted the selectors to pick a captain to be moulded for the future rather than turn to Brad Haddin, 37.

It is a leap of faith no doubt led by Darren Lehmann, whose first move in the frantic days following his appointment and the sacking of Mickey Arthur was to pluck Smith from Australia's A tour of county grounds and throw him into the Ashes team.

Smith is Lehmann's man and he has responded by becoming world cricket's most improved player in the past 18 months.

He has made six test hundreds and achieved an average of 59 since the first Ashes test of 2013. He is also a world-class fielder and can nick the odd wicket with his legspin.

He scored his second century of the ongoing series against India after his unbeaten 162 in the opening test victory in Adelaide last weekend - a fourth in eight matches this year.

"I wanted to lead from the front with my performances, so hopefully I've done that so far in this game," Smith said.

Smith made his debut at Lord's against Pakistan in 2010 and scored 77 in his second test at Headingley after Australia had been dismissed for 88 in their first innings. But his first outing against England was less impressive. He was thrown into the chaos of a losing Ashes side more as Australia's answer to Graeme Swann, with his cheeky grin and spin bowling, than the new Shane Warne.

"I've been told that I've got to come into the side and be fun," Smith said at the time.

His bowling soon proved to be nowhere near test standard, while his batting floundered. He was dropped, but as with Clarke, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, that turned out to be a positive.

Those close to Clarke believe he will be back for one final Ashes hurrah next year and his gloomy prediction that his career could be over at the weekend was the result of an emotionally draining test in Adelaide and the raw grief following the death of Phillip Hughes.

If Clarke's career is at an end then Australia's eye on the future is instructive and begs the comparison with England, for Smith and Joe Root are at an almost identical stage in their careers.

Smith is slightly older - Root turns 24 on December 30 - but has played only one more test than the Yorkshireman. They have similar captaincy experience at county or state level and their rivalry looks to be the Ashes theme of the future.

Smith, deputising for the injured Clarke, became the first Australian to score a century in his maiden test as captain since Graham Yallop in 1978.