Australia Test captain Tim Paine has blamed India’s distraction tactics as the reason for the series loss while also putting his weight behind Steve Smith for the captaincy.
Australia Test captain Tim Paine has finally opened up on the series loss the hosts suffered at the hands of India earlier this year. Paine has blamed India’s cheeky sideshows that resulted in Aussie players taking their eyes off ahead of the series decider at the Gabba.
India were bundled out for 36 in the series opener in Adelaide but bounced back in a spectacular fashion to clinch the series 2-1 by breaching Australia’s fortress – the Gabba.
“Part of the challenge of playing against India is they’re very good at niggling you and trying to distract you with stuff that doesn’t really matter and there were times in that series where we fell for that,”
Paine quoted to news.com.au.
The Aussie captain is referring to the outrage that was caused as the visitors refused to leave for Brisbane, where the series decider was slated to begin. Some of the former Aussie cricketers questioned India’s tactics saying they’re scared as the Gabba was a fortress for the home side, and no visiting team had won there in 32 years.
“The classic example was when they said they weren’t going to the Gabba so we didn’t know where we were going. They’re very good at creating these sideshows and we took our eye off the ball,”
he added.
But the situation aggravated as the Queensland govt exercised stricter quarantine protocols due to Covid-19, which included staying in a room for more extended periods. This didn’t sit well with Indian players.
Paine Will Support Smith if He Becomes Australia Captain Again
Smith has been regaining the trust back gradually in the eyes of prominent figures of Australian cricket and the public after he lost his captaincy in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal in Cape Town.
Paine has previously acknowledged Smith’s captaincy ambitions but has gone one step further while speaking at a function for the Chappell Foundation at the SCG on Wednesday night. Paine said he would support Smith if the former Australia captain is to return back to his old post.
“I think so. 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,”
“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 South Africa events happened and he’s not doing it anymore. But yeah I would support him getting that job again.”
Paine said.
Smith has captained Australia in 34 Tests from 2014 to 2018 with 18 wins under his belt before the sandpaper gate forced him out of the leadership role.
Paine took over the side, which was stained badly by the events and did a fantastic job of rebuilding its image. Under Paine’s leadership, Australia retained the Ashes by drawing a series in England but suffered two consecutive series losses at home against India, which has put the skipper under pressure.
On being asked how much longer he will carry on, Paine said, “At least another six Tests,” who’s eyeing a home summer featuring one match against Afghanistan and five-Test Ashes series.
“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.”
