5 players who can lead Australia in the 2019 world cup

The recent 'Sandpaper Gate' has created all sorts of trouble for Australian Cricket, following which a very strict Cricket Australia has imposed a 12-month ban on the skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner and a 9-month ban on the youngster Cameron Bancroft.

The trio was put under the restriction with immediate effect and the replacements in Matthew Renshaw, Glenn Maxwell and Joe Burns were announced for the final test match against South Africa. Furthermore, wicket-keeper Tim Paine is handed the leadership in red-ball cricket. Australia may not give Smith the leadership immediately even if he returns before the next year's world cup.

With the limited-overs cricket is still months away from Australia, here is the list of contenders who could be in-charge to lead the Kangaroos in white-ball cricket, having a world cup just fourteen months away.

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#5 Travis Head

He is one of the mainstays in ODI and T20I cricket

The middle-order batsman from Adelaide is an integral part of the Australian limited-overs setup. Travis Head has been around for more than a couple of years and could make up a successful replacement as a captain.

In the recently concluded Big Bash League, the left-hander led Adelaide Strikers to their maiden title, in which he himself played an instrumental role with the bat. Australia won't mind having a young 24-year-old captain who can lead from the front in the crisis & take the team over the line.

#4 Tim Paine

Set to lead Australia in Test cricket

The man who wasn't even considered to be a part of the eleven in recent past now is one of the contenders to lead the national cricket team of Australia. This unpredictability in cricket makes the sport exciting.

Tim Paine, who made his white-ball cricket debut way back in 2009, has made a comeback after a 7-year absence with the yellows in November last year, following the poor show of Matthew Wade.

Following the 'Sandpaper Gate' incident, the 33-year-old was announced as the captain for the remainder of the ongoing test series against South Africa, which might get extended in the shorter format as well.

#3 Glenn Maxwell

Can he transform Australia's white-ball cricket?

Glenn Maxwell's unorthodoxy nature might favour him as far as the captaincy role is concerned. He is definitely the man who could bring Australia's recent white-ball record back on track.

Being a part of Australia's national team for over six years, the 29-year-old has played 81 ODIs and 43 T20Is for Australia. The big show has brought maturity to his game since last 12 months, an element which could be utilized through his leadership, especially with the 2019 world cup not far away.

#2 George Bailey

George Bailey has the highest captaincy experience amongst these contenders

It won't be a surprise if the former Australian limited-overs skipper, George Bailey, is called up to lead the Kangaroos once again. His captaincy record has been decent, with 16 wins out of 29 games in ODIs and 14 wins in 28 T20Is.

One of the most remarkable series under Bailey was the 2013 Indian tour, which is hailed as one of the most exciting ODI series between the two countries. The 35-year-old is often compared to MS Dhoni, for his calm-composed nature & street-smart cricket brain.

Often termed as the smiling assassin, Bailey might make a historical comeback to lead Australia even in the upcoming world cup.

#1 Aaron Finch

He is most likely to lead the yellows

The best alternative to lead Australia in shorter formats is the aggressive opening batsman, Aaron Finch. The right-hander is at the peak of his international career, who has led Australia in T20I cricket.

Having not played Test cricket so far, the 31-year-old is completely devoted to the white-ball cricket & that might boost his chances to become the new skipper. Furthermore, he has also been the stand-in captain for Australia in ODIs in absence of the regular ones.

Being a hard-hitting opener, Aaron Finch has a tendency to play longs innings and the responsibility-element comes naturally to him.