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Tim-Paine-Steve Smith
Australian wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine supports Steve Smith and claims that the batsman is good enough to regain captaincy. Tim Paine has no plans to quit the position immediately but is confident that Steve Smith is ideal for the top job. Paine's remarks came after Steve Smith said in March that he is open to the captaincy role if offered a chance to replace Tim Paine. Notably, Tim Paine took over as captaincy reins from Smith after the star batsman was banned for two years. Smith and Warner were banned for their involvement in the ball-tampering scandal that brought disgrace to Australia in South Africa.
Tim Paine to lead Australia in Ashes 2021
After the 2018 ball-tampering incident in Cape Town, Aaron Finch was handed over the captaincy in white-ball cricket. Tim Paine was given the reins in Tests. Tim Paine has no such plans to relinquish the captaincy but reckoned that he might be tempted to bow out of the game if Australia dominates England in the 2021/22 Ashes. When questioned about how long Tim wants to lead Australia as Test captain, Paine spoke about the one-off Test against Afghanistan and the forthcoming Ashes series. After series of back-to-back defeats against Pakistan and India, Tim Paine was able to right the ship in 2019 as Australia won against Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan and New Zealand. However, the Test series loss against team India once again has made him suspicious about his role in the team.
The Indian cricket team made a grand comeback to win the series after losing the first Test match against Australia. They won at the Gabba to win the series and eventually became the first team to defeat Australia in their fortress. They lost the first of a 4-Test series against England at home but bounced back to win the series 2-1 against Australia. With this win. India booked a place in the final of the World Test Championship.
Virat Kohli-led team India will travel to England in the first week of June and complete the mandatory quarantine period. They will then play against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final in Southampton from June 18. After WTC, India will play a five-match Test series against England from August 4. India defeated England 3-1 when they hosted the English side at home earlier this year.