Paine backs Smith for captaincy
Obviously I've had a few conversations with people. You don't need to be Einstein to realise that it is probably unlikely, particularly in June Australia's tour of Bangladesh. Be it cancelled completely or it's pushed back we're nearly sure at the moment.
A rising crop of young talent will compete with Steve Smith to be Australia's next captain, current skipper Tim Paine said on Tuesday.
Smith captained the medial side before Paine but was slapped with a two-year leadership ban over his part in the ball tampering scandal during a Test in Cape Town in 2018.
The ban expired this week, prompting renewed speculation that Smith could soon resume the leadership duties.
While 35-year-old Paine has acknowledged he is in the twilight of his career, the wicketkeeper said he had not been yet ready to walk away from the game.
He refused to construct a timetable for his departure, particularly with the uncertainty created by the COVID-19 shutdown, saying only that coach Justin Langer and selectors knew of his plans.
"I know very well what I'm thinking, when it comes to how far I could play on and we're on a single page," he told reporters via video conference.
Paine said he previously not spoken with Smith about the captaincy however the 30-year-old batsman wouldn't normally be the only prospect for the role.
"I haven't had that conversation with Steve, I probably will at some stage no doubt," Paine said.
"It's obviously something that he loves doing ... so if Steve Smith decides that's the way he wants to go, i quickly will fully support him in trying to do it again."
"We've got numerous guys to decide on who can put their hand up," he added.
"There's Steve Smith, who's done it before, or the persons who are developing underneath such as a Travis Head or an Alex Carey -- Marnus Labuschagne and Pat Cummins are other ones.
"We're beginning to build some real depth to ensure that when my time's up we have several options."
International cricket, like most other sports, has been turn off while the world battles the pandemic and Paine said it didn't take "Einstein" to summarize that Australia's tour of Bangladesh would probably not just do it in June.
