‘Totally unfair’: Paine criticism scorned

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy inevitably sparked debate about Tim Paine’s credentials as Australian Test captain.

Not only was the 36-year-old’s wicketkeeping below its best against India, but his decision-making regarding field placement and the DRS remains a concern.

The ugly footage of Paine attempting to rattle Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on day five of the Sydney Test was also damning.

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But on Wednesday afternoon, chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns emphasised that Paine’s leadership “was never in question” when choosing the Test squad for the upcoming tour to South Africa.

“We did not spend one minute on Tim’s leadership during our selection meeting,” Hohns told reporters.

“He’s been a terrific leader of this team through some pretty trying circumstances, and some of the criticism he’s endured has been pretty wide of the mark — and in poor taste from some people overseas.

“The criticism of Tim Paine has been totally unfair.”

Australian captain Tim Paine.Source:AFP

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke also threw his support behind Paine, arguing the Tasmanian reinvigorated the Test side following the 2018 ball-tampering saga.

“When he was given the captaincy … it was at as though a time as I’ve ever seen in Australian cricket,” Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast on Wednesday morning.

“Tim Paine and Justin Langer got put into this position — and I’m sure both of them are honoured to coach and captain Australia — but I think we need to also remember how good a job they have done to get Australian cricket back to where it is now.

“Our expectations are, we win every game we play, and that’s because of what they’ve done over the last couple of years.

“I think we need to be careful not to underestimate the importance of the job they’ve done, how well they’ve done it.”

Australia’s Test record stands at 11 wins and eight losses with Paine in command.

Ben Oliver, Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager of National Teams, said Paine has been an “outstanding captain” since taking over the role from Steve Smith.

“Tim has the support of the team, the coach and everyone else at Cricket Australia and the result of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series has done nothing to diminish that,” Oliver said in a statement.

Australian captain Tim Paine.Source:AFP

“Tim is in career-best form with the bat and, while the series against India was not his best with the gloves by his own admission, he remains in the top echelon of wicketkeepers globally.

“And as a leader, he has been brilliant. To captain a squad through the many challenges presented by the pandemic — not least the unique pressures of hub life — is no easy task and Tim did that with strength, humility and good humour.

“After a series that attracted so much global interest, it was inevitable there’d be scrutiny. But some of the commentary surrounding Tim and his position as Test captain has been wide of the mark.”

South Australian wicketkeeper was named in Australia’s Test squad for the South Africa tour, and is widely tipped to be Paine’s successor.

“He’s played limited overs cricket for us, and we thought that was the ideal pathway for him to get to Test match level,” Hohns said.

“Alex, over the last 18 months, has got better and better as a player, so I think our thinking is reasonably clear there, without rubber stamping it, if I could put it that way.”

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