Shane Warne
Test great Shane Warne has questioned whether Tim Paine should captain Australia and says squad selection is largely in a state of flux heading into October's series against Pakistan.
Paine took charge of the Test side for the final match in South Africa in March after skipper Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner were suspended for their roles in the ball-tampering scandal. While Paine had played only 12 Tests to that point, he was 33, a former state captain and an experienced hand.
He also led Australia through a winless one-day series in England in June and is set to be stripped of the captaincy in that format but almost certainly will retain the Test reins for two Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and then at least through the start of the home summer.
However, Warne says Paine must only be selected if he is the best wicketkeeper-batsman, and not simply because the team is devoid of leadership.
"The Australian way is always to pick your best team. There is a lot of talk about that, should Tim Paine be in the side? He is the captain at the moment," he said.
"But we, as Australians, should always pick our best team and then pick your captain and vice-captain from that. I don't think we should just make a captain and then fit a side around him.
"I think the captain and vice-captain should still be up for grabs. I want us to see us pick the best side. If Tim Paine is in the best side and he is the best guy to be captain, then make him captain."
Tim Paine at the WACA late last year.
The selectors had the option of handing the captaincy to Mitch Marsh, Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb for that final Test against the Proteas, for they are all state captains, but it was felt Paine had established his spot and was a steady hand who could help to build a less abusive and more rounded culture.
Marsh, who will lead Australia A through two first-class matches in India next month, has been praised by national selector Greg Chappell for his leadership qualities, and is tipped to be Paine's deputy.
Warne, who had an eventful stint as Test vice-captain under Steve Waugh, said off-spinner Nathan Lyon should be considered as deputy.
"I would like to see Nathan Lyon be considered for the vice-captain role. He is a senior player, an experienced player in the side – spinners generally think about the game pretty well," Warne said on Fox Sports.
"Nathan Lyon thinks about the game pretty well, even the big 'quickies' do, in [Mitchell] Starc and [Josh] Hazlewood. [Pat] Cummins is young but why not look at him, either?
"It's not just the batsmen we need to look at [as vice-captain] – and I don't think any of the batsmen have really consolidated themselves. I think they are all up for grabs. I think the allrounder's spot is up for grabs. I think if you are an Australian cricketer at the moment, you are so close to playing cricket for Australia, so the start of the domestic season is so important."
Cummins and Hazlewood have been ruled out of the Pakistan series because of injury but 78-Test Lyon, with 306 Test wickets, will be integral to Australia's hopes of snaring a first series victory in Asia since 2011.
The selectors must also settle on two opening batsmen, replacing Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the latter serving a nine-month ban for rubbing sandpaper on the ball. Queenslander Matthew Renshaw and Victorian Aaron Finch are in firm contention.
Warne, who was suspended for 12 months in 2003-04 for taking a banned diuretic tablet, said Smith and Warner would be missed.
"We all make mistakes over the journey of our life. These guys made a pretty big one … it was embarrassing to see, and quite hurtful to see, but I still think they will be back," he said.
"We need them, we are desperate for them. Have a look at the Australian side of the moment, we are lacking in batting. We need them. We want to rush them back but they will do their time. They will pay their penance, their 12 months, and they will be back. They will be better than ever."
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