Cricket Australia refusing to discuss succession planning for Test captaincy in wake of Steve Smith frenzy

With commentary over Steve Smith returning to the Test captaincy when his leadership ban expires hitting frenzy level, Cricket Australia have stepped in to offer Tim Paine a timely vote of confidence.

Australia's captain Tim Paine (L) and Australia's Steve Smith (R) celebrate their victory on the field after the fourth Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Old Trafford in Manchester, north-west England on September 8, 2019. - Australia retained the Ashes with a 185-run thrashing of England in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO ASSOCIATION WITH DIRECT COMPETITOR OF SPONSOR, PARTNER, OR SUPPLIER OF THE ECB

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Cricket Australia’s board has dug in behind captain Tim Paine by refusing to contemplate life beyond him.

Chairman Earl Eddings, the most powerful figure in Australian cricket, declared that the board has put the clamps on any internal discussion over succession planning for the Test captaincy.

Commentary over Steve Smith returning to the post when his leadership ban expires in March has become so frenzied it has threatened to overshadow the man doing the job right now.

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Tim Paine need not fear Steve Smith for his captaincy role.

Selectors also added to intrigue over the next Test captain by appointing Alex Carey to skipper Australia A, specifying a desire for the young wicketkeeper to gain more “leadership experience.”

Paine turns 35 in December, but could be forgiven for feeling frustrated at the feeling a changing of the guard is being pre-empted, given he has led Australia through the most arduous chapter in its history, largely without fault.

Eddings is adamant that is not the case, and offered Paine a timely vote of confidence in his insistence that the rampant debate over captaincy remained nothing more than white noise to CA’s board.

“In all honesty, it’s not on our radar. We have a great captain, Tim Paine,” Eddings told News Corp Australia.

“I think you would acknowledge he’s done a great job since he’s taken over in a time of crisis.

Paine has the backing of the Cricket Australia board.

“It’s really not on our agenda at the moment. Tim is doing a good job. We are lucky across Australian cricket. We have some wonderful captains. Meg (Lanning), Aaron (Finch) and Tim. We’re just leaving it at that.”

Eddings is closing in on 12 months as Cricket Australia’s Chairman after taking over from David Peever, who stood down amid the storm of last year’s cultural review.