In a heart-warming gesture ahead of Christmas, Australia have added seven-year-old cricket-crazy Archie Schiller in their extended 15-member squad ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Archie, who suffers from a heart ailment, dreams of captaining Australia and it has been confirmed he would co-captain Tim Paine in the third Test against India, starting December 26.
The move was made possible by the Make-A-Wish Australia Foundation.
According to cricket.Com.Au, the announcement was made on Sunday at the BUPA Family Day at Yarra Park.
It turned out to be a memorable seventh birthday on Saturday for Archie, a leg-spinner from Adelaide, as Paine delivered the news on the same day.
Archie's inclusion in an extended Australian Test squad was made public earlier this month and he learned the news via a phone call from coach Justin Langer.
The young leg-spinner also practised with the Australian team during a training session at the Adelaide Oval earlier this month.
Paine said the decision to make Archie the co-captain was their way of fulfilling his long-cherished dream.
"When his dad asked him what he wanted to do, he said 'I want to captain Australia'. I think it's been picked up along the way and we're rapt to have someone like that around. He adds a bit of perspective I think.”