A NEW START

Paine eager to help Australia take fresh guard post tampering saga

by Tristan Lavalette • Last updated on

"I think what is important is to continue to do that and be who I am...be relaxed" - Paine © Getty

Tim Paine, the new Australian Test captain, says he is excited about overseeing Australia's transition in the wake of the ball tampering scandal and plans to consult "quite closely" with banned former skipper Steve Smith.

The 33-year-old has been installed as Australia's full-time Test captain in the aftermath of the saga, which saw Smith, former vice-captain David Warner and Cameron Bancroft receive lengthy suspensions.

Smith has been suspended for 12 months and can't assume a leadership position for two years but Paine said he would seek the advice of his former skipper. "He's someone who I certainly will be speaking quite closely to on how we go about it and keeping him in the loop," Paine told reporters in Hobart on Thursday (April 19).

"We had started these discussions a few months ago and Steve was keen for us to play a different style and for me it is about carrying it on. We want to make sure when they (the banned trio) come back the environment and the way we play is how it should be. I have a role to play of winning the back the trust and faith of our fans and the Australian public.

"I have spoken to him (Smith) on the phone and via text. All three of them are going through a tough time and our thoughts are with those guys and we would love them back in the team."

Paine's renowned humility and maturity should serve him well amid an unprecedented situation. Cricket Australia (CA) chiefs have backed the Tasmanian's composed temperament to help steer an Australian team - that had become volatile and brash - into the right direction.

"I have been put in this situation because of how I was around the group in the last six-seven months," Paine said. "I think what is important is to continue to do that and be who I am...be relaxed. I'm not an overly vocal captain but I would like to think that I will lead by example.

"Two years ago I didn't see myself playing cricket for Australia and the fact that I've been there and lost it means I don't take it (playing for Australia) for granted," he added.

Paine revealed a more grounded Australia wouldn't go overboard with sledging "I think there's always a time and a place to talk to your opposition, but I think what's said and how it's said will be very different going forward," he said.

Inserted into the hot seat of captaincy immediately after the ball tampering revelations, Paine gamely attempted to galvenise the downtrodden team but Australia was promptly thrashed in the third and fourth Tests in South Africa.

Paine admitted the ugly episode overwhelmed the team. "It took a huge toll in our last two Test matches," he said. "I've never been involved in something that affected so many people - from staff to players - and it was a really challenging two weeks and we didn't deal with it very well. The silver lining is we get a clean slate.

"It hasn't totally sunk in that I am the full-time Test captain," he added. "I think the enormity in South Africa was a shock but the job (captaincy) felt like it was only for a week but now I'm lucky we have this big break and I come home and can think how I want to go about it."

Having being in the Test wilderness for seven years before his shock Ashes recall in November, Paine has had an injury plagued career with finger injuries and, most recently, he suffered a broken thumb in the fourth Test in Johannesburg.

However, Paine said he was confident of his longevity in the sport. "I told someone this morning that I am 33 going on 22," he grinned. "I have felt as good as I have. My body feels great, the more cricket I play the easier it is on my body. I don't see any reason why I can't play for a number of years."

Amid the major change in Australian cricket, CA is on the lookout for a new head coach after Darren Lehmann resigned in the aftermath of the scandal. The West Australian newspaper reported on Wednesday that Justin Langer, the WA coach, was set to be installed in the role but CA have denied the claim.

CA is set to have a board meeting on Friday (April 20) to start the steps on finding Lehmann's replacement. Paine backed Langer but said there was a strong field to choose from with other candidates set to include former legends Ricky Ponting and Jason Gillespie.

"I'm sure Justin would do a terrific job...and (he) would be brilliant," he said. "But we have a number of people in Australia who could step up and do the role. There are so many quality people in Australian cricket and around the world that will put their hand up for the role.

"I will speak to our new coach in the next few weeks and whoever that is will have ideas too (on Australia's cultural change)," he added. "It is potentially a really exciting time for Australian cricket."

CA have yet to announce Paine's deputy and the leadership for the limited-overs formats. Aaron Finch is deemed the frontrunner for limited-overs captaincy, with the veteran having previously led Australia's T20 team.

Cricbuzz understands Mitchell Marsh, the allrounder and WA captain, is favoured to be given the vice-captaincy across the formats.

© Cricbuzz

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