Australian captain Tim Paine is ramping up his preparations for England and his ‘one-off’ shot at Ashes glory

Australian captain Tim Paine admits he is thinking about the upcoming Ashes series too much, but is keen to do everything he can to ensure he is ‘absolutely cherry ripe’ for what he believes will be his only tour of England.

Australian captain Tim Paine looks at the series trophy with player of the series Pat Cummins at Manuka Oval. Picture: Phil Hillyard

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Australian skipper Tim Paine is loading up one shot at an Ashes triumph in England - making it count consumes him.

Paine has three Sheffield Shield matches remaining with Tasmania before the Ashes. Australia A’s month-long tour starting in June will be crucial to a successful preparation for Paine and Ashes strategy devised by head coach Justin Langer.

“I have to make sure I am absolutely cherry ripe by the time the Ashes comes around and want to be feeling really good and confident about my skills as well,” said keeper-batsman Paine.

“I will be looking to play plenty of cricket if I can and hopefully a bit of that in England on the ‘A’ trip.”

Australian captain Tim Paine, right, with the Redbacks centurion Jake Weatherald during the Sheffield Shield clash between South Australia and Tasmania at Adelaide Oval this week. Picture: AAP Image/David Mariuz

There is a small margin between undercooking or burning a 34-year-old frame while juggling leadership responsibility.

“I am looking at a few things of how I am going to go about it. I am certainly not getting any younger,” said Paine, who plays through the pain caused by a right index finder that has required seven operations after being crushed by a Dirk Nannes bouncer in 2010.

“It is a fine balance for me to stay fresh but to be really well prepared as well.”

All going to plan Australia World Cup commitments won’t end until July 14 at Lord’s. Paine could have featured in four one-day games against County sides and a three-day tour match against Jason Gillespie’s Sussex by the World Cup final. Australia and England A have a tour match scheduled from 14-17 July in Canterbury.

Langer’s likely first choice Test XI will have a final hit out against Australia A from July 23-26 in Southampton ahead of the first Test against England at Edgbaston from August 1.

Like any ageing gladiator, waiting for the contest is harder than the cut and thrust of battle in the middle. Wife Bonnie “is on to” Paine about putting away his phone, whether Steve Smith or Langer are calling. It’s hard to stop thinking about all things Ashes.

“For me it will definitely be the only chance I will get to play in Ashes series in England,” said Paine, renowned for a stellar command of Australia since the Cape Town ball tampering saga 12 months ago that claimed predecessor Steve Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft.

“It is a one-off chance for me to do it.

“I am probably thinking about it too much, to be honest I probably need to concentrate more on what is happening at the present but it is hard not to.

“It is such a massive moment for anyone in Australian cricket.

“You can’t help but not be excited by the prospect but I have to concentrate on the here and now first.”

Tim Paine holds and his Australian teammates celebrate their series win against Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval in Canberra. Picture: AAP Image/David Gray

England’s series loss to the West Indies in the Caribbean has allowed Australia to usurp it in fourth place on ICC Test rankings.

Sri Lanka becoming the first Asian team to win a Test series in South Africa has taken on significance after it was crushed by Paine’s unit here this summer.

Cricket’s original rivalry makes rankings redundant, Paine warns.

“I don’t think it matters when it comes to Ashes, it’s England and Australia,” said Paine.

“Whoever wins that, you feel like you’re the best team in the world for that period of time.”

The inaugural Test championship is due to start in July but clinching the little urn for the first time in 18 years on English soil remains the Holy Grail for Australia.

“I think for both sets of players, the world ranking is one thing and then holding the Ashes is another that is right up there alongside it,” said Paine, who made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lord’s nine years ago.

Tim Paine drives during day two of the second Test match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Manuka Oval this month. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“So whether we’re the 10th and 11th teams, it wouldn’t matter.

“The Ashes rivalry is enormous, and one that everyone looks forward to.”

Paine watched nine-Test seamer Jackson Bird decimate South Australia this week in Adelaide with an 11-wicket match haul using the Dukes ball.

However, Paine remains upbeat about Australia’s ability to deal with the ball that swings for the duration of Tests in England where Jimmy Anderson has 368 of 575 Test scalps at 23.

“There’s no doubt it’s good to see the ball swinging around and seeing guys playing against and bowl with it, so there’s certainly some positives from it,” said 21-Test veteran Paine.

“But it’s not the be-all and end-all.”

Dealing with a Dukes ball and foreign conditions from Edgbaston to The Oval have proven beyond Australian sides full of legends including Shane Warne since 2001. Paine’s unit has been given little chance of returning home with the Ashes but then few gave Allan Border’s men a hope in 1989.

“There’s been some of Australia’s best-ever teams that have gone over to England and found the conditions challenging,” said Paine.

“We’ve got to walk the fine line between respecting the fact that it is a little bit different and a little bit harder to play over, but still going over there and playing to our strengths and taking them on.”