Once his leadership ban expires Steve Smith should be back as Australian captain according to Ian Healy, who worries about current skipper Tim Paine’s workload.
Tim Paine’s stint as Australia’s captain should be confined to the duration of Steve Smith’s leadership ban, according to Healy.
Ex-Test gloveman Healy is well aware of the challenges confronting Paine in his demanding twin roles as wicketkeeper and skipper.
He served as vice captain to Mark Taylor and that experience ensured he never coveted the top job.
Paine is the first Australian to share both the captaincy and wicketkeeping roles on a full-time basis since the start of the 20th century, with Adam Gilchrist and Barry Jarman having only filled in for six and one Test respectively.
Healy can’t see 34-year-old Paine being able to hold onto both roles beyond the extent of Smith’s two-year ban from a leadership position.
“I think Painey has done a fantastic job and I think he will be able to last the ban of Steve Smith, but that might do him,” Healy said, ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Gabba.
“That’s when he’ll be really tired. It’ll be very interesting to find out after that Indian series just how tired he was. How he felt the days after that and how long it took to recalibrate.
“I don’t think you can do it long term, especially when you’ve got candidates in your side who are just as capable of doing that leadership role.
“Tim Paine would love to sit back and be that set of eyes and gloves for the captain, I’m sure. And he could be valuable after Smithy returns.”
Smith is free to play for Australia again when his 12-month ban ends on March 29, but can’t return to the captaincy for another year after that.
There has been significant conjecture over whether he should be given that position again following his ban stemming from the ball-tampering saga.
Smith has since revealed he erred in Cape Town by telling David Warner and Cameron Bancroft he didn’t want to know what was happening when he saw the plan being hatched.
But Healy, who played 119 Tests for Australia between 1988 and 1999, said he would like to see Smith return.
“Yes I would,” said Healy, who will commentate for Fox Cricket in Brisbane.
“He definitely hasn’t done a lot wrong, he’s been a victim of the etiquette and the law book that the captain in a cricket team takes the brunt of what’s going on in your team.
“He has paid a big price and I’m happy for him to (captain again).”
Bangers N Mash
Guest
Nothing wrong? Except lose th first ever series to India at home , just s minor detail.
jamesb
Roar Guru
Smith is a great batsman, but a very average captain. And that's before we talk about sandpaper. However, after Paine, and with Warner banned from any leadership position, who are the alternatives? Head? Cummins? In the shorter forms, Maxi would be a good alternative after Finch, but in the test side, there's hardly any options.
Nick
Guest
Why can't he just score the runs. Doesn't mean he needs to be captain. Never thought he was much of a leader
Nick
Guest
Smith was.never a really good captain. Last game I saw him before he let the sandpaper incident happened he was almost crying when things went wrong.
Mon
Guest
Yep I have no problem with this suggestion. Paine as VC is a great choice. If you think that Smith hasn’t learnt some very valuable lessons from this, especially after being humiliated and scorned so harshly by his own people, then I can’t help you. Also, I don’t really rate Pain’s captaincy that highly. I think there are a bunch of people too focussed on what a ‘top bloke’ he is on the field. Not important to me at all. I’d rather a captain who can score a bucket if runs consistently which will in turn give confidence to the rest of the team. He doesn’t need to prove jack as a player. And people make mistakes. There are no better options.
Paul
Roar Guru
First things first, Mr Healy. Smith has to get back into the team and earn the respect of his piers on and off the field. He and Warner are going to be copping plenty from opposition players and the public, especially when Australia plays overseas, so lets see how he deals with that pressure first. He also needs to go back to making runs so he gives the team what it needs - a great Test batsman. This will give the side great confidence, will allow younger players to trust & respect his ability but will also help Smiths overall confidence which has been pretty shaky of late. All up, that should take at least a couple of Australian summers and if a better candidate doesn't come along, by all means choose him, but doing so as soon as his ban's finished would be sheer stupidity.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Heals is deadset wrong if he thinks Paine will happily hand back the captaincy. No way. Paine has fought long and hard for that Test cap again, with the captaincy a bonus. He will have it until he retires. Smith needs to prove himself as a person and player before any consideration of leadership. Sorry Heals. Not in the ballpark on this one.
Hugh Jarse
Roar Rookie
Ian Healy has just confirmed my opinion of him as a cricket 'expert' commentator. Don't get me wrong. Above all, I want to see what's best for Steve Smith. But the whole South African saga yells and screams that Smith was never a good choice of leader in the first place.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Why?? I tend to agree with Peter and Spanner above, Smith was hardly a strategic success, awesome run maker, but not a stand-out captain. I might be wrong, but isn't he part of the the reason Maxwell is so much on the outer?? Though perhaps, coming back from purgatory might make him a better captain and more understanding of other players and their quirks. Also wait and see the effort he makes over the year to ensure Warner is welcomed back after throwing him under the bus...
peter chrisp
Guest
I guess with the ban due to expire as you say in March just around the corner it's hard to say is Smith an automatic selection & same as Warner? On a personal level we have different opinions on selections on why a certain player should or should not play, which is fair enough. I am actually with Peter's W's comment everyone is entitled to their opinion, would i play Smith again? Tough call, do we forgive & forget? It will difficult for the latter. If he wasn't selected we move on? Simple as that?
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Agree Pete - very average captain with terrible body language, esp. when things got tight ! Just make heaps and heaps of runs matey ! Paine has done nothing wrong.
Peter Warrington
Guest
Bah. an ordinary captain in the Greg Chappell tradition. that was even before sandpaper. Just bat. Keep your head down. Keep your opinions to yourself. And bat. Anyone but Smith...