Australian Test captain Tim Paine will be consulting Steve Smith and David Warner
While Steve Smith and David Warner will play a crucial role with the willow, Australian Test captain TIM PAINE says the pair could have an even bigger impact without bat in hand.
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You don’t need a ‘C’ or a ‘VC’ next to your name to be a leader in the Australian cricket team.
Steve Smith and David Warner have played in Ashes series in England and World Cups and know a lot of the batters and bowlers we’re going to play against over the next few months as well as anyone.
Certainly from my point of view as Test captain, I’ll be speaking to them regularly on the field about tactics or how we might get someone out.
Off the field they’re both absolutely professional athletes, so we expect them to slot back into our team and even though they won’t be in official leadership roles, they’ll be leaders in all other facets.
Australia wants them to do that and needs them to do that.
I’ve been in regular contact with Steve and Dave and Cameron Bancroft over the 12 months and they’re absolutely pumped to now be available to play for Australia.
There are going to be some challenging times when we get to England with the noise from the outside, but certainly within our group those guys are going to be welcomed back and are going to be a huge asset for us and help us grow in confidence.
Guys like Josh Hazlewood and Peter Handscomb have been desperately unlucky to miss out on the World Cup – but I think it’s good in a way that we’re back making really difficult decisions.
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Leaving quality players out means we’re in a good position and we’re building some real depth and strength, not only for the World Cup but the Ashes squad is going to be a really difficult one to finalise as well.
Josh Hazlewood would be very disappointed; his one-day record is absolutely outstanding. But at the same time he’s been injured and I think from the Test team’s point of view it’s really vital Josh has the best possible preparation for the Ashes.
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It’s a sign of the depth we’re starting to build. Knowing Josh, he’ll be pumped up for the Ashes and he will have a real point to prove.
Jason Behrendorff deserves his chance. Dorff has an outstanding ability to take new-ball wickets and at a World Cup on the pitches we’re likely to see in England, that’s going to be really important.
The fact James Pattinson has earned a contract probably signals that he will be in our Ashes squad provided he stays fit.
He’s absolutely world class with the ball and he brings a really aggressive competitive edge. Patto is a guy you love having in your team, but you hate playing against him.
It’s really nice to see Pete Handscomb rewarded with a contract as well, he’s a great team man and brings a lot to the table. I think it’s clear he’s in our Ashes plans as well – and could potentially be an option as a No.2 wicketkeeper.
During the summer I said on a few occasions that we had to be realistic with where we were at the time, but that there was a real opportunity for guys if they grasped it.
It’s taken the whole 12 months to adjust to not having Steve and Dave in our teams, but it’s happened now and I think there’s some really exciting times ahead of Australian cricket in all formats over the next few years.