Australian Test captain Tim Paine would back Steve Smith’s return as skipper, but says Travis Head, Alex Carey or Pat Cummins could do the job

Australian Test captain Tim Paine speaks about why the upcoming tour of Bangladesh is unlikely to proceed, looming pay cuts and the possible candidates to replace him as skipper.

Tim Paine of Australia (right) speaks with Steve Smith on day 3 of the third Test Match between Australia and New Zealand at the SCG in Sydney, Sunday, January 5, 2020. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY, IMAGES TO BE USED FOR NEWS REPORTING PURPOSES ONLY, NO COMMERCIAL USE WHATSOEVER, NO USE IN BOOKS WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT FROM AAP

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Tim Paine will support any Steve Smith quest to regain the Australian captaincy ‘down the track’, but is equally impressed by next generation leaders fronted by Alex Carey and Travis Head.

Paine is dealing with challenges from Steve Smith captaincy talk, pandemic-related pay cuts and cancelled Test tours to thieves who broke into his car this week.

Smith is again eligible to lead Australia, while limited overs keeper and vice-captain Carey is waiting patiently for a baggy green.

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“At the moment we have Steve Smith who has done it before or guys who are developing underneath like Travis Head, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins,” said Paine, who coach Justin Langer wants to captain Australia through to next year’s World Test championship final at Lord’s.

“We are starting to build some real depth.

“That is what we want to do, ensure when my time is up there are a number of options.”

Australian captain Tim Paine held a press conference on Zoom from his home in Hobart on Wednesday. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

Paine, 35, says he is ‘on the same page’ as Langer, national chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and Cricket Australia boss Kevin Roberts regarding his captaincy tenure.

“I have said a number of times I am taking it series by series. Our team has some goals and one is the ICC Test championship final and winning that. I haven’t looked further,” said 31-Test keeper Paine, who steered Australia to series sweeps of Pakistan and New Zealand last summer.

Former GWS midfielder Carey’s leadership is highly regarded by Hohns, while the standout keeper of last year’s World Cup in England won praise from Paine.

“There is no doubt when I have been around him he has some great leadership qualities that he brought back with him from football days,” said Paine of 28-year-old Carey.

“I think his wicketkeeping continues to improve and no doubt his batting when on song can be quite devastating.

Steve Smith could captain the Test team in the future – but not before Paine retires. Picture: Saeed Khan/AFP

“That is a really exciting thing for Australian cricket going forward.”

Smith is due to command IPL side Rajasthan Royals in April and Welsh Fire in The Hundred during July.

Paine won’t step aside for Smith but offered his blessing if the superstar batsman wants to lead Australia again.

“I haven’t had that conversation with Steve, I probably will at some stage,” said Paine, credited with saving Australian cricket as Test skipper since the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal two years ago that saw predecessor Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft serve playing bans.

“He is captaining Rajasthan Royals and in The Hundred, it is something he loves doing.

“If he decides that is the way he wants to go I will fully support him doing it again, as the next captain if I wasn’t doing it.”

All signs point to Alex Carey as Australia’s Test keeper in waiting. Picture: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Watching the Wiggles on TV with his kids is more a reality for Paine than a mid-year Test tour of Bangladesh, given the world is in COVID-19 lockdown.

“You don’t have to be Einstein to realise it is probably unlikely to go ahead, particularly in June. Whether it is pushed back or cancelled completely we are not quite sure at the moment,” said Paine, whose car was broken into on Tuesday morning after he moved it to set up a home gym.

AFL players have accepted a 50-70 per cent pay cut hinging on a condensed 17-round or cancelled 2020 season.

Cricket Australia will release its contract list in May, but Paine indicated players would take a pay reduction if required.

“There is a fair bit of water to go under the bridge from a cricket sense,” Paine said.

“Certainly if things happen similar to football we have to do our bit to ensure the game remains healthy and survives.”