GIVE HIM THE JOB
Push on for our Tim to be named full-time captain
TIM Paine’s amazing Test resurgence is set to continue, with the keeper almost guaranteed to be captain in Johannesburg should vice-captain David Warner be stood down permanently.
Steve Smith has already been suspended from the final Test against South Africa for his cheating admissions but a Cricket Australia investigation could determine the need for further penalties. That investigation could be concluded as early as today.
And fed-up cricket fans are now demanding change — with 75 per cent of respondents to a poll on News Corp’s websites saying Paine should be made captain full-time. Second-placed was Nathan Lyon, with 8 per cent support.
Paine was installed as skipper for an ugly final day of the Third Test and his statesmanship, despite his lean international experience, is highly regarded among Cricket Australia officials.
His strong voice during the drama which engulfed Warner and the Aussie camp in Durban was also praised.
A long-term decision on the captaincy is not needed immediately, with the Aussies not playing international cricket again until a limited-overs series against England in June.
Beyond that a Test series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi will be played later in the year, possibly August, but that has not been locked in. That gives CA officials time to fully con- sider their options which include Usman Khawaja, who is Queensland captain, and Mitchell Marsh, who is in charge of Western Australia when he is at home.
Most believe Smith, via his frank admission, can’t continue as captain. The word “untenable” has been used a lot. And when the investigation by Cricket Australia offi- cials who are on their way to South Africa is completed, he shouldn’t be captain.
But vice-captain David Warner is also in the leadership group. If he was party to the decision to tamper, he can’t be in charge either. The rest of the leaders change each tour, but in South Africa are bowlers Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
That leaves Khawaja, who has struggled for runs this series, and the younger Marsh, who has only just re-established himself in the Test team after years of mediocre national returns too.
Then there’s Paine. When it comes to good citizens, he’s at the top of the pile. He has been a revelation in his Test return and his efforts behind the scenes as a positive influence on the group have been lauded.
Another potential is Peter Handscomb, the Victorian captain. Any omissions from the team mean Handscomb, the only spare batsman on tour, gets a start. When he began his Test career, some earmarked him as a potential captain. Then he got dropped.
THE fairytale rise from Sheffield Shield stragglers to champions will be officially extinguished today for Tasmania but the side has built a platform for sustained success in the coming years.
A docile Allan Border Field pitch, a poor draining ground that saw day one abandoned despite blazing sun, and the forecast of more showers this afternoon, will see Queensland claim its eighth title since 1994-95.
The Tigers will resume at 0-10, trailing by 29 runs after the Bulls racked up 516 to put their noses in front on first innings.
Tasmania had a sniff of grabbing a slender lead when Michael Neser (58) and Jimmy Peirson (48) fell in consecutive overs with the hosts still 11 runs behind, but tailenders Mitch Swepson, Brendan Doggett and Luke Feldman were able to guide the Bulls beyond 500 and into safe territory.
Nothing short of a miracle will see the Tigers build a lead quickly enough to then give a brave but weary bowling unit one last tilt on a lifeless deck, but regardless of the result coach Adam Griffith couldn’t be prouder of his troops.
The cornerstone of the squad is young enough to forge ahead together, putting behind the dark days of the past two seasons.
“There is a heartbeat there, we probably would have liked to get that last wicket a little bit earlier, but we have a day to go, 105 overs is a long day and as you always know in finals, there can be twists and turns,” Griffith said.
“We will turn up with a plan in place to push as hard as we can and see how we go.
“We want to give ourselves as much time as we can to knock them over. We will probably work off overs more than runs, whatever we think is a realistic opportunity for us to take 10 wickets.
“They will have enough left, they will recover tonight, the outfield is really spongy here so it takes a bit out of the legs.
“That’s why we tried to hold on to the quicks as much as we could at
the end of the dayday, we knew we would have one more push at them.”
All 11 Queensland batsmen reached double figures — joining the 10 from Tasmania’s first innings — while 12 of the 20 batting partnerships in the match have exceeded 50 runs, highlighting the almost impossible task facing the bowlers.
Bulls top scorer Charlie Hemphrey, who finished with 77, said the side expected one last charge from the visitors, and declared the hosts would take greater satisfaction from winning the title rather than the match ending in a draw.
“That first day we didn’t play has obviously taken a bit of time out of the game. They are going to have to come out and push for a result,” Hemphrey said.
“It is a pretty flat wicket . . . they will try and probably bat for less than half the day and put some pressure on us.
“They have some skilful bowlers so when we get our chance to bat we have to bat well.
“It would be great to win the game, it is the way we have played all year — we will be well aware Tassie have to come to us, though.”