Who will replace Tim Paine as Australian Test cricket captain?

One big question lingers after Tim paine’s tearful resignation because of a sexting scandal — who will be Australia’s next Test captain?

Just weeks out from the first Ashes Test and Australia is scrambling to find itself a new Test captain.

Tim Paine announced on Friday afternoon he is stepping down after being embroiled in a sexting scandal, when lewd messages he allegedly sent to a female Cricket Tasmania employee were exposed.

Paine broke down in tears as he said he “deeply regretted this incident at the time, and still do today”, adding he is “enormously grateful” for the support of his wife Bonnie and his family.

“We thought this incident was behind us and that I could focus entirely on the team, as I have done for the last three or four years. However, I recently became aware that this private text exchange was going to become public,” Paine said.

“On reflection, my actions in 2017 do not meet the standard of an Australian cricket captain, or the wider community. I’m deeply sorry for the hurt and pain that I have caused to my wife, my family, and to the other party.

“I’m sorry for any damage that this does to the reputation of our sport. And I believe that it is the right decision for me to stand down as captain, effective immediately. I do not want this to become an unwelcome disruption to the team ahead of what is a huge Ashes series.”

The first Test of the summer against England is scheduled to start in Brisbane on December 8 — but who will walk out for the coin toss at the Gabba? Well, there are a few options.

Pat Cummins

Cummins is the vice-captain and seems like a logical replacement for Paine. He was already being talked about as the man to take over when Paine, 36, eventually decided to retire, and has all the attributes Australian cricket fans want in a leader.

Humble, well respected and universally admired by cricket lovers around the world, the pin-up boy of the game Down Under seems like a natural-born leader.

However, there are concerns about giving a bowler the captaincy. Will Cummins be able to concentrate on tactics and setting fields when he’s tired from his own efforts with the ball? What if he needs to go off the field for a break after a 10-over spell on a 40C day?

Australia’s most well-known captains have been batsmen — think Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Allan Border, Mark Taylor, Ian and Greg Chappell. But will Paine’s resignation finally force a change?

Pat Cummins is a frontrunner to take over. (Photo by Patrick Hamilton/AFP)

Steve Smith

Suspended for 12 months and banned from holding any leadership position for two years after the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, Smith is now free to captain again.

He took over as skipper when Michael Clarke retired in 2015 and his run-scoring feats went to staggering new heights with the “C” next to his name. However, Smith’s role in sandpapergate led many to question whether he’d ever captain his country again.

The star batter has said he would be open to leading his side once more if given the opportunity, and there’s no doubt he has matured and learnt plenty since that fateful day in South Africa.

But is it too big a risk to turn back to the man in charge on Australian cricket’s darkest day?

Can Steve Smith redeem himself after sandpapergate? (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Marnus Labuschagne

The batting prodigy of the Australian team has been touted by some as a potential future captain, but question marks linger over Labuschagne’s maturity.

Earlier this year Paine endorsed Labuschagne’s credentials as a national skipper down the line and the Queenslander himself said he harbours ambitions to lead his country one day.

“For me, absolutely, I would love to captain Australia,” Labuschagne told The Daily Telegraph this month. “Everyone would love that.

“But for me, it’s about making sure I put the team first and when you’re talking about being a leader, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need the title. You can be a leader without the title and I think that’s the role I can play.”

However, Labuschagne admits he will need to adjust his on-field behaviour if he wants to assume the most important job in Australia after the Prime Minister. Earlier this year reports emerged Justin Langer raked him over the coals for wanting to take a toasted sandwich out onto the field in a Test match, while his enthusiasm can sometimes get the 27-year-old into trouble.

Last summer Shane Warne and Andrew Symonds were caught on TV telling Labuschagne to grow up, not impressed with his exaggerated antics at the crease.

The right-hander has also been criticised for showing visible disappointment at umpires’ decisions, and last month came under fire for a wild appeal in a Sheffield Shield game that some pundits called a “bad look”.