Current Australian Test captain Tim Paine had said that he would support Steve Smith if he becomes the team’s captain again. Speculations on Smith taking the role again are high as Tim Paine-led side has not performed in the recently concluded home series where a new and less experienced Indian side had crushed them to 2-1 series defeat.
“I think so. Obviously, I don’t make that decision but the time I played with Steve as captain he was excellent. Certainly tactically he is as good as you get,” Paine said while speaking at a function for the Chappell Foundation at the SCG on Wednesday night.
“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,” he said.
“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. I would support him getting that job again,” said Paine.
Paine said that he himself expects to be the captain for at least 6 more Tests culminating in the Ashes later this year at home.
“At least another six Tests,” said the 36-year-old Paine.
“If I feel like the time is right and we’ve beaten the Poms 5-0, what a way to go out. But it might be a tight series and we might be chasing 300 on the last day and I’m 100 not out and hit the winning runs – and then I might go again,” he said.
