CAUGHT WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN

Smith, Warner and coach face sack over cheating

AUSTRALIAN cricket captain Steve Smith, his deputy Dave Warner and coach Darren Lehmann could be dumped permanently within days after Smith’s startling admission that the team cheated on Saturday.

Smith admitted the “leadership group” was responsible for Cameron Bancroft using adhesive tape as sandpaper on the ball, before trying to hide it down his pants.

To think he has gone from a local [club] captain to a Test captain in just over 12 months, you could make a movie out of that. XAVIER DOHERTY

AUSTRALIA has turned to Tasmanian Tim Paine to lead it out of its self-inflicted cricket crisis.

Paine was earmarked as a future Test captain until a devastating broken finger almost ended his international career and resulted in multiple operations and bone grafts.

As Australia’s Test side plunges into utter chaos on the back of an admission it attempted to cheat by tampering with the ball during the current match against South Africa, Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner agreed to stand down at the request of Cricket Australia.

Paine, 33 and a father of one, has been well regarded for his leadership qualities, having captained the Australian under-19 team, the Hobart Hurricanes and the Tigers when George Bailey has been away, and has been a positive, calming influence since his return to the national team.

It continues the amazing turn around for Paine, who was not even in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield team at the start of the summer and now finds him- self in Australian sport’s highest profile leadership position.

Cricket Tasmania chief executive Nick Cummins congratulated Paine on his appointment but said that it wasn’t really a cause for too much celebration given the circumstances of his promotion.

“This has come about in less than ideal circumstances but it is pleasing to see Cricket Australia has recognised Tim’s leadership qualities for the Australian team,” he said.

“He’s been a good leader for some time in Australian cricket and has got a really cool head.

“But given the circumstances of his appointment it’s not really a cause for celebrations.”

Retired Tasmanian Tigers spinner and Paine’s former team mate Xavier Doherty said his rise to Test captain was unbelievable, given the circumstances.

“To think he has gone from a local

[club] captain to a Test captain in just over 12 months, you could make a movie out of that,” he said. “Albeit he’d be surprised under the circumstances.”

Doherty said everyone had admired Paine’s commitment to get back to the national side.

“Tactically, he thinks about the game very well and has got some good plans on fielding.”

Paine, the nephew of former Fitzroy, Adelaide and Tasmanian State of Origin coach Robert Shaw, grew up on Hobart’s Eastern Shore and played backyard cricket against fellow Tasmanian and former Australian Test gloveman Matthew Wade and was a product of Rokeby High School and University cricket club.

He earned a Tasmanian contract at just 16 such was his prodigious talent and was a member of the Tigers maiden first-class title in 2006-07 playing as a batsman only.