Ashes 2019 | Wasn't initially keen on taking over Australian Test captaincy, reveals Tim Paine
Getty
Tim Paine has revealed that he was initially hesitant to take over Test captaincy on the aftermath of the Newlands ball-tampering saga. Paine was handed over Australian Test captaincy post the Cape Town ball-tampering incident, which saw the then skipper Steve Smith banned for 12 months.
After having made his Test debut in 2010, playing four tests, it wasn't until seven years later, in 2017 that Tim Paine went on to play Test cricket for Australia again. The Tasmanian made a dramatic comeback as Australia's premiere wicket-keeper in the 2017/18 Ashes series, after almost quitting the game a few months prior to that, due to injuries.
But as if making a comeback to the side wasn't dramatic enough, things went ballistic for the 34-year-old as he was named Australia's permanent Test skipper post the Newlands ball-tampering scandal, which saw the then skipper Steve Smith, vice-captain David Warner, and newbie Cameron Bancroft getting suspended from Australian colours for an extended period of time due to their involvement in the incident.
Paine, who has since done a remarkable job in stablilizing things both on and off the field, has now revealed that he was initially hesitant to take over the captaincy, but felt that he needed to take it up to fulfil his duty and responsibility.
"I wasn't keen on it, but I didn't say that. I just thought at the time that I had to do it. It was a strange circumstance to have it in, and it wasn't really a time for celebrating. After that feeling started to pass, there was probably a bit of unease with the role, as we began to realise how big the story was," Paine told cricket.com.au.
Paine, who had just played 12 Tests for Australia prior to taking over the captaincy, was thrown straight into the limelight post the ball-tampering saga, and faced an enormous job on his shoulders, having to professionally deal with things both on and off the field. The whole Australian team was under the scanner post the controversy and Paine has now revealed the severity of the incident, and how he finally came to terms with what had to be done.
"We knew that it was going to be hard work and a big job, and it was during that period I came to accept that I can only do what I can do, and I've tried to keep things really simple ever since.
"I knew I just had to be myself, be as honest as I could and answer all the questions, and just try and be a normal person who also happens to be the Australian Test captain," he revealed.
Paine admits that the biggest challenge he faced was to repair to team's morale off the field and also to appeal to the general public, who have been harsh on the Aussies ever since the scandal. He also added that the aim was to rebuild the team completely by the time the trio of Warner, Smith, and Bancroft were ready to make their returns to International Cricket.
"We had to let that go and make sure, instead, that we could bring this team and Cricket Australia to a better place by the time our teammates were ready to return," Paine said.
"That was one part of it, and then there was the public perception and trying to win back the trust and faith of Australia and cricket fans around the world. That was a really big task, and we're going to have to do it for a long period of time to get it completely back," he added.
"We've certainly still got work to do, and we're always trying to get better," the Aussie skipper concluded.
Paine will lead an Australian XII to take on an Australian 'A' XII in a 4-day encounter on July 23, which will be the Aussies' last warmup game before the first Ashes Test which will kick off on August 1st.
Cricket FootBall Kabaddi
Basketball Hockey
SportsCafe
