Test skipper has not given up on dream of leading country into battle on his home soil

Test captain Tim Paine has thrown his support behind getting Test cricket back at Blundstone Arena, saying its conditions would give Australia’s world class attack an advantage over any opposition.

Australia's wicketkeeper and captain Tim Paine holds to hope he will lead his side into battle in his home state (Photo by JEREMY NG / AFP)

TEST captain Tim Paine believes Blundstone Arena provides perfect conditions to give Australia a competitive advantage as he holds hope of one day leading the side on his home soil.

Hobart has not hosted a Test match since 2016, when South Africa routed the hosts for 85 on the opening morning before completing an innings and 80-run annihilation inside three days.

However now armed with arguably the most lethal pace attack in the world — and having guided the country back to the No. 1 Test ranking — Paine has no doubt his home state should again be considered for the longest form of the game.

It comes after Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin blasted Cricket Australia last week for living in a time warp when it came to international scheduling.

“Teams now around the world, like India for instance, when we go to India they will play us on pitches that spin the most,” Paine told the Mercury.

“We have an opportunity to have a competitive advantage over international sides if we can get them down to Bellerive with the amount of swing you get.

Tim Paine is seen after hitting the winning runs for Tasmania against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield clash in Hobart in February. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge)

“To get the red ball in the hands of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc, James Pattinson and these guys, bowling at Bellerive would be an awesome sight to watch.

“I think it would be great television too, to watch Test cricket at Blundstone purely because of the wicket.

“Wickets these days don’t tend to offer much for bowlers but it always swings and seams down here, there is always enough in the wicket.

“Those Test matches are the best ones to watch.”

Paine successfully lobbied for the Gabba to host this summer’s opening Test against powerhouse India, with Australia having not lost in Brisbane in three decades.

And while Gaggin declared it would be a travesty if Paine ended his career as the first national skipper since Victorian Henry “Tup” Scott more than 130 years ago to not even play at his home ground, Paine has not lost hope he will get the opportunity.

Australian captain Tim Paine walks onto the field during day one of the First Test match between Australia and New Zealand at Optus Stadium last December. Paine said it would be “unbelievable” to play a Test in Hobart. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“It would be pretty unbelievable to be leading the Australian Test team out onto Blundstone, where I have been going to work for nearly 20 years now,” Paine said.

“That would be an awesome situation to be in, there is no doubt about that.

“I certainly haven’t given up hope, I intend to play for a little bit longer, probably longer than people might expect me to.

“Physically I am in as good as nick as I’ve been in, mentally I am in a good spot, loving playing cricket.

“I am still hopeful at some stage I will be able to play a Test match here in Hobart.”