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Australian cricket captain Tim Paine backs disgraced Steve Smith to lead team again

John TownsendThe West Australian
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Australian captain Tim Paine, left, talks with teammate Steve Smith.
Camera IconAustralian captain Tim Paine, left, talks with teammate Steve Smith. Credit: Rick Rycroft/AP

Tim Paine has endorsed his predecessor Steve Smith to regain the Test captaincy should the position become vacant after next summer’s Ashes campaign.

The Ashes will finish at Optus Stadium in mid-January, with Paine hinting he might retire then.

Paine will be 37 by the time of the fifth Ashes Test, though 12 previous captains had the reins at an older age.

“I’ve got plenty of unfinished business,” he said.

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Paine replaced Smith in 2018 after Cricket Australia suspended the then captain, his deputy David Warner and opener Cam Bancroft over ball tampering during the Test at Cape Town.

Smith and Warner have since become Test regulars.

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“My honest opinion was that when I was coming back into the team I thought Steve was growing into that role brilliantly,” Paine said.

“It’s a bloody big job, but if he got the job again, I’d be fully supportive of it.”

Tim Paine and Steve Smith together at training.
Camera IconTim Paine and Steve Smith together at training. Credit: Tim Goode/Getty Images

Speaking on SEN, Paine explained he had been asked specifically about Smith’s prospects during a function at the SCG this week and was confident the former captain would be ready to resume in the role.

“I don’t make that decision but the time I played with Steve as captain he was excellent,” Paine said at a Chappell Foundation event.

“Certainly tactically he is as good as you get.

“He’s probably a bit like me when I was at the start of my captaincy journey in Tasmania - he was thrown into a very big role at a very, very young age and he probably wasn’t quite ready for it.

“But by the time I came in he was growing into that role and getting better and better.

“Then obviously South Africa events happened and he’s not doing it anymore.”

CA placed Warner under a lifetime captaincy ban while paceman Pat Cummins and middle-order batsman Travis Head are considered other possibilities to succeed Paine.

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