Tim Paine’s alliance with Steve Smith has been influential on Australia’s Test team culture

TIM Paine hadn’t played a Test in nearly eight years or scored a first-class hundred in a decade, but out of nowhere he has become a driving force in Australia’s bid to return to the No.1 ranking.

Paine’s knowledge is vital to Australia. (Phil Hillyard)

TIM Paine’s behind-the-scenes alliance with Steve Smith has been the born-again keeper’s biggest impact on the Australian Test side.

That’s the opinion of Paine’s confidant and mentor Brad Haddin, who has followed the Tasmanian’s extraordinary comeback story from the very beginning.

Haddin says at 33 years of age, Paine has taken his glovework and batting to a new level, but reserved special praise for the impact he’s had on the dressing room.

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Steve Smith has been able to rely on Paine’s character. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

Smith has endured an up-and-down initiation into Test captaincy due to the huge turnover of young players he’s had to oversee, but Paine has helped form a discernible culture in the dressing room by becoming his eyes and ears.

“He’s a really good calming influence on Steve,” said Haddin.

“If you notice in the game, they spend a lot of time talking to each other. That’s the role of the keeper.

“We’ve got the best eyes there, and he’s got a really good cricket brain … he’s a good sounding board for Steve.

“The more confidence he’s got at this level the better he’s been for Steve and around the group.

Paine walks in the second Test. (AP Photo/Michael Sheehan)

“He’s that calming head. He’s been around a long time and because he’s had that time out of the game, he’s really, really hungry to get better and that’s rubbing off on all the players.

“The character he brings to the team has been good.”

Haddin always felt during his career that if anyone would take his place behind the stumps for Australia, it would be Paine.

That didn’t eventuate following Paine’s well-documented injury dramas with his finger, but persistence has paid off.

In the first Test Paine gloved a special catch standing up to the stumps to Mitchell Marsh that clinched Australia the match following a South African fightback.

And in several Tests since his recall, Paine has formed vital partnerships with the tail.

Paine’s knowledge is vital to the team. (Phil Hillyard)

Paine hadn’t played a Test in nearly eight years and hasn’t scored a first-class hundred in a decade, but out of nowhere he has become a driving force in Australian cricket’s bid to return to the No.1 ranking.

“His keeping has gotten better since the Ashes. I think the dismissal he got up to the stumps off Mitchell Marsh was as hard as you get. That just goes to the work he’s done. He’s been faultless behind the stumps, I think,” said Haddin.

“And one thing that has pleased me most of all is the way he has batted. He’s our link between the middle and the tail and he’s really changed the momentum of the game.

“He understands how to play with the tail, whether he needs to push the game forward or shelter the tail a little bit.

“So from his batting point of view as well, and that was brought up before he was picked, he’s really understood his role and made a difference there. I couldn’t be more proud of the way he’s playing.

“He’s always been a good cricketer, and has always been destined I think to play for Australia.

“Everything about him suits this environment.”

Originally published as Tim Paine’s alliance with Steve Smith has been influential on Australia’s Test team culture