Steve Smith’s leadership provides Tim Paine relief

My first comment was more directed at yours about Smith. Even if a better keeper bat did come along and displace Paine, I would want someone else given the captaincy over Smith.

What do you mean “not enough to be a non-batting/bowling all-rounder at number 7”? You mean he has to score runs?

Paine has not had the best of matches so far. Batting was very ordinary, huis keeping was very untidy and his field placings have left a bit to be desired. His use of bowlers has been ordinary but he has three right arm quicks and a right arm spinner. At least with Starc there was the variety offered from a leftie. Two problems if Paine goes is who replaces him as captain and we are then stuck with Wade as the back up keeper to replace him. Sadly I feel our selectors stuffed up badly with the squad. Carey and Burns should have been there inb place of Wade and Bancroft and Patterson instead of Marsh.

Smith can't be captain anyway. When captain he had no control over Warner and that cost him 18 months on the sidelines. He's ineligible for a while yet. Paine is the best available and the best keeper in Australia. He has no competition for the job.

Paine is our country’s best keeper and averages more in tests than Carey averages in first class cricket. Also averages more than Haddin, Nevill and Wade did in tests, too. He’s not remotely comparable to Brearley. Jeez there have been some knee-jerk reactions to one innings.

Put it this way, Nick: can you name the player who (a) is a first choice keeper for his State in Shield cricket and (b) justifies a spot in the test side by weight of red ball runs? Because I can’t. Carey had a good WC with the bat but he hasn’t scored runs in first class cricket and his keeping was a bit sloppy. Bancroft and Handscomb don’t keep in the Shield. Wade isn’t a good enough keeper. A specialist keeper isn’t a luxury. A test quality keeper who can justify his spot as a batsman as well is a luxury. We’ve only ever had one in our history, being Gilchrist. India have Dhoni, England have Buttler and Bairstow, WI have Hope, SA have De Kock. We just don’t have anyone of that calibre with both gloves and bat in first class cricket. If and when they come along then they’ll probably justify displacing Paine. I won’t have an issue with that.

You’re still only thinking about his batting. Nathan Lyon struggled for a long time under Smith because smith didn’t use him correctly for nigh on 2 years to the point he was about to be dropped. There was nothing inspiring or innovative about how Smith captained the side. Paine took us to a win In India, and the UAE and has a real crack at the Ashes ahead of him. Let’s give him (Paine) a chance because Smith has already shown qualities as a leader that should disqualify him for life from ever taking up that position ever again. I thought the playing ban was far too harsh on all 3 but the captaincy ban for Warner should have been the same if not worse for Smith.

Too much credit in the media to Smith for the revival of the innings. You'd think he was the only one out there. You can't do it without a partner. Siddle took 30 more balls than Smith, and scored one run more, in their partnership. And then Lyon stuck around while Smith went to work. Brilliant effort by those two who aren't picked in the team fo their batting.

Sadly Tim Paine is the Mike Brearley of Australian cricket. We used to laugh at the poms because they picked a player who wasn't a good enough cricketer to play but was needed as a captain. Tim Paine is 34 and well past his best. He shouldn't be in the team and that shot was atrocious. Bite the bullet Australia. If he fails in the second dig, bring in Alex Carey. Usman Khawaja to captain.

Though I agree we shouldn’t have smith back as captain, he never was flash hot anyway. I never thought it was a lack of cricket nous that held him back, more a temperament problem, he just isn’t well suited to keep his emotions in check on the field and lead the team (except by example obviously).

It’s a tough position with Paine. His batting is clearly not good enough at this time. Smith can’t be captain for a year and maybe should never be skipper again. Just focus on his batting. There are no other options. Maybe Head if he continues to bat well for a year or so. Khawaja can captain teams but his place in the side isn’t always certain

Yeh, he wasn't much chop as captain. He certainly leads by example - probably no-one better but his cricket nous isn't as good as say Clarkes was.

Whether or not the captaincy affected Smith's batting form doesn't have anything to do with his captaincy ability, though. Smith often lost his cool in the field and clearly struggled to control his players. He wasn't a standout tactician either. Batting ability aside there wasn't really any basis for him being captain, other than a dearth of options at the time. History offers plenty of examples of excellent batsmen who were poor captains, such as Tendulkar and Greg Chappell. And you keep talking like Paine should be judged on his batting alone but he's a keeper. He'd be holding his place in the side as a specialist keeper even if he wasn't captain because he's the best gloveman in the country. The next in line is probably Alex Carey but he has a first class average of 29, which is lower than Paine's *test* average of 35. There is just no reason to rush into giving Smith back the captaincy. He doesn't need it and he was never outstanding in the role (again, batting ability aside) the first time around. The landscape could change over the next six months and we could be back to having no other appealing options, but for now? It ain't broke, so don't fix it ;)

Agree with James. Good batsman but never rated him in the leadership position. Doesn't seem to have that disposition of getting the best out of everyone. Plus he sooked too much.

Sorry but as much as I admire Smith the batsman, he was a poor captain and it would be a huge mistake to reinstate him in March unless Paine's keeping and batting both fall off a cliff over the next six months. Paine's shot selection has occasionally leaves something to be desired but have we already forgotten his previous gritty knocks? How about his 57 under lights in the second Ashes test in Adelaide when Australia were wobbling at 5/209? Or his team-high 62 (out of 221) at Cape Town, in his first test in charge following sandpapergate? Or his match-saving 61* from 194 balls in Dubai? Paine will never be the batsman Smith is (and really, as a keeper and number 7 he shouldn't even be compared) but fortunately he possesses other captaincy qualities Smith has never really displayed: a calm head out on the field and - above all - man management skills. A captain is ultimately responsible for the conduct of his players. Smith didn't take control of his team's behaviour. Paine has. Personally I'm not one to hold grudges and I moved on from sandpapergate ages ago. Smith will still carry that stigma with him for his career, though. Why bring that to the most important position in Australian sport when you have a perfectly capable leader in place? The great thing about batsmen who lead by example is that they don't have to have a formal title in order to do it. Smith is the quintessential cricket nerd who never quite grew up. He is a joy to watch when he plays because you can see that he lives and breathes the game. Just let him bat and leave the stress and responsibility of team leadership to someone who has shown they can handle it.