Aussie Test skipper Tim Paine backs Steve Smith’s leadership bid once he has hung up gloves

Tim Paine wouldn’t miss the Ashes for quids but beyond that series, retirement is a distinct possibility - and the current Aussie Test skipper has given his support to a potential next leader.

Australia's captain Tim Paine throws a helmet towards Steve Smith during first Test against India last December Picture: AFP

Tim Paine admits his days are numbered as captain of Australia and can’t see any reason Steve Smith should not get a second chance at the job.

“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 at a dinner for The Chappell Foundation in Sydney.

“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.

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Tim Paine has given Steve Smith a big captaincy endorsement.

“But by the time I came in he was growing into that role and getting better and better. Then obviously (in) South Africa events happened and he’s not doing it anymore. But, yeah, I would support him getting that job again.”

Paine admits he got things wrong when he was first handed the captaincy of his state, saying he demanded too much of his teammates and was intolerant.

The 36-year-old was the guest speaker at the event for the foundation which raises money for homeless youth and is headed by the three Chappell brothers.

Paine has not ruled out standing down from the job after this summer’s Ashes but says he has not considered when he will retire.

“At least another six Tests,” he said when he was asked how much longer he had left.

“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.”

Steve Smith and Tim Paine enjoyed Ashes success back in 2019.

Australia plays Afghanistan and England this summer. The season begins with a Test against Afghanistan in Hobart before the Ashes begin in Brisbane and conclude with the fifth match in Perth. 

Smith, who stood down and then served a two-year leadership ban after the scandal in South Africa, revealed recently that he would like another chance to do the job should it come his way.

“I guess now I’ve got to a point where if the opportunity did come up again I would be keen,” Smith told News Corp.

“If it was what Cricket Australia wanted and it was what was best for the team at the time, it’s certainly something I would be interested in.

“I’m always going to have to live with Cape Town regardless of whether I lead again or not. It’s always there. Time keeps moving forward, and I’ve learnt so much the last few years about myself and grown as a human being.”

Former captain Ian Chappell, who was at the charity event where Paine spoke, criticised Smith at the time.

Paine is determined to lead the Aussies to more Ashes glory.

“The opportunity to captain Australia should only arise when the incumbent, Tim Paine, is either incapacitated or decides he has had enough of an extremely demanding job,” he wrote in a column for Cricinfo.

“In Paine‘s case, he took over in extenuating circumstances, when Smith abrogated his duty by allowing a case of blatant cheating to occur under his watch. Since that time, Paine has done an admirable job of restoring Australia’s cricketing reputation.”

Paine was at his self-deprecating best at The Chappell Foundation dinner, revealing he was intimidated to be told he would be the next Australian captain in South Africa.

“If I’m totally honest, I s*** myself,” Paine added. “I didn’t know what to do. I’d captained Tasmania when I was quite young … and looking back I was a horrible captain. I was punchy, aggressive … everything was everyone else’s fault, it wasn’t my fault.”

Originally published as Aussie Test skipper Tim Paine backs Steve Smith’s leadership bid once he has hung up gloves