New Australia women's cricket captain Alyssa Healy has pledged to empower an emerging group of leaders within the dominant squad.
But the freshly minted skipper, who officially replaced the retired Meg Lanning on Saturday, would not be drawn on whether there is a succession plan in place for newly appointed vice-captain Tahlia McGrath.
McGrath, 28, is the heir apparent after being handed the role of deputy to the 33-year-old Healy, not least given the age of the squad's other leaders: allrounder Ellyse Perry is 33, Jess Jonassen 31 and Megan Schutt 30.
Lanning had captained the side since her appointment as a 21-year-old in 2014.
"There's a great group of leaders in our group that haven't had the opportunities to lead a lot - especially in the domestic game, but also at the international level," Healy said on Saturday.
"And that's going to be a real key to how we drive things. It's about finding the next leaders in Australian cricket.
"There's some outstanding ones that are quite senior in our group that are doing it quite consistently in domestic cricket and the WBBL.
"So it's about finding that next rung of leaders and giving them the freedom to want to lead within our side, and encourage them to do so. That's part of my role."
McGrath has already captained Australia - in a one-day international against Ireland in July - and has led the Adelaide Strikers to back-to-back WBBL titles.
Other players in the squad have captaincy experience at club level.
Heather Graham (27) captains Hobart in the WBBL while Ashleigh Gardner (26) and Annabel Sutherland (22) have previously filled in as skipper for the Sydney Sixers and Melbourne Stars respectively.
Game-breaking star Healy is ready to juggle managing her own performance with supporting those around her.
When asked whether captaincy would make her a better player, she said: "100 per cent. It should make you a better person as well.
"The skills that I've learned, in particular over the last 12 months in doing it for the Australian side; my captaincy's changed in that 12 months.
"I can't wait to see what it's going to do over the next couple of seasons and where it will take me.
"I'd love to play some really good cricket and continue to contribute to this side on the field, but if I can help encourage the young players to do that just as well as what I can then I feel like I'm doing my job."
