'At Least Another Six Tests': Tim Paine Hints At Stepping Down As Australian Captain But With A Condition

Australian Test captain Tim Paine has hinted at stepping down from his position if his team manages to beat England in the Ashes later this year. 

“If I feel like the time is right and we’ve beaten the Poms 5-0, what a way to go out. But it might be a tight series and we might be chasing 300 on the last day and I’m 100 not out and hit the winning runs – and then I might go again,” Paine was quoted as saying by news.com.au.

Before the Ashes, Australia will also play against Afghanistan in a one-off test at home. 

Paine named Steve Smith as his successor to lead Australia again in the longer format, saying he is tactically as good as it gets. 

“Obviously I don’t make that decision but the time I played with Steve as captain he was excellent. Certainly tactically he is as good as you get,” Paine said. 

“He’s probably a bit like me when I was at the start of my captaincy journey in Tasmania – he was thrown into a very big role at a very, very young age and he probably wasn’t quite ready for it."

“But by the time I came in he was growing into that role and getting better and better. Then obviously (in) South Africa events happened and he’s not doing it anymore. But yeah I would support him getting that job again,” he added.