Warner appointed Steven Smith's deputy

David Warner's image makeover has been rewarded with his appointment as Steven Smith's lieutenant, after the Cricket Australia board approved the recommendations of the selectors for the leadership team to succeed the retiring captain Michael Clarke.

Smith had always been in line to be named as captain following his strong displays as stand-in for the injured Clarke during the home summer, but Warner has needed to do considerable work on his attitude on and off the field in recent times to grow into a role that will be pivotal in support.

As the chairman of selectors Rod Marsh acknowledged, the 28-year-old Warner has come a long way since he was suspended on the previous Ashes tour for throwing a punch at Joe Root in a Birmingham bar. Alongside Smith, he has been Australia's most prolific batsman in recent times, and has also this year toned down his self-appointed role as the team's on-field "attack dog", something he discussed with ESPNcricinfo in the West Indies.

"We have reached a point in time where we've had to look at our leadership positions again with an eye to the future," Marsh said. "David has matured and developed into an important senior figure in the Australian team. He has come a long way.

"He had valuable experience captaining the Sunrisers in the IPL earlier this year and we are confident he will provide strong support to Steve as his deputy. We believe that he will respond well to the added responsibility of leadership."

Other contenders for the role included Mitchell Johnson, who had been appointed vice-captain of the limited-overs team in the past, but the selectors were always likely to settle on Smith and Warner after the latter's recent work to mature as a cricketer. He will still have some work ahead of him to prove that progress to the rest of the world, who know him as much for his abrasive manner as his explosive batting.

Smith has emerged as Australia's leader over the past 18 months, first becoming an integral member of the team in all formats and then showing his captaincy ability when Clarke was unavailable against India. He has also captained New South Wales to the 2014 Sheffield Shield and the Sydney Sixers to the 2012 Big Bash League title.

"We have had a clear succession plan in place for the captaincy with Steve Smith gaining valuable experience leading the Australian Test Team while Michael Clarke was recovering from injury last season," Marsh said. "When Michael made his decision to retire last week it was a very straightforward decision for us to nominate Steve as his successor.

"He has big shoes to fill but everything about him suggests he is the right man for the job. At 26, he is a fine young man with extraordinary talent, excellent leadership qualities and a terrific temperament. He is highly regarded by the selectors and we congratulate him on being appointed to the role on an ongoing basis. He should be incredibly proud."

The CA chairman Wally Edwards said the nine directors had concurred with the selectors' recommendations after some discussion at their August board meeting in Melbourne. "We have all seen Steve Smith's clear leadership potential and believe he can perform an excellent job for Australian cricket over many years," he said.

"We supported the recommendation to appoint David Warner as vice-captain, noting his role as a leading batsmen, his development and emergence as a leader within the team. We congratulate both men on their appointments."

Smith and Warner will lead Australia in the limited-overs matches that follow Clarke's farewell Test at the Oval, before they travel to Bangladesh for their first overseas assignment together.