HOUSE OF PAINE
WICKETKEEPER Tim Paine ( pictured) was yesterday thrust into Australia’s team captaincy for the remainder of the Third Test in South Africa after skipper Steve Smith and vice - captain David Warner stepped down following their admissions to ball tampering.
Australian cricket is in disarray in the wake of the extraordinary episode and Smith, Warner and Australia coach Darren Lehmann all face the sack.
Players taking part in the Sheffield Shield final are among those who could now get Test call- ups.
STEVE Smith’s future as Australian Test captain hangs in the balance with Cricket Australia ( CA) chief James Sutherland refusing to guarantee his position in light of the Cape Town ball- tampering saga.
Smith’s fate is one of several major questions which remain unanswered after the shocking revelations of the illegal practice on day three of the third Test against South Africa.
Smith, ( pictured) who admitted he had authorised Cameron Bancroft using tape to interfere with the ball in a bid to create reverse- swing, and David Warner have stood down as captain and vice- captain for the rest of the ongoing match at Newlands.
CA has opted to send their head of integrity to South Africa to investigate the cheating scandal before the fate of Smith, Bancroft and Warner is determined. Quizzed repeatedly on whether Smith should remain as captain, Sutherland was noncommittal but said he was “shocked and extremely disappointed”.
Tasmanian Tim Paine will lead Australia for the remainder of the third Test, which saw South Africa surge to a 389- run lead at lunch overnight.
“In recent times, as you know, I’ve had reason to speak to Steve about the team’s behaviour,” Sutherland told reporters in Melbourne yesterday. “I have very strong and clear views about the responsibility of the Australian cricket team to play the game in the right spirit.
“I don’t think anyone will be under any illusions there within the team as to what I think about this.”
The decision to interfere with the ball was authorised by Australia’s leadership group, which has previously included Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. Smith and CA are yet to reveal whether other players were part of the discussion.
The incident seems certain to irreparably tarnish Smith’s otherwise squeaky- clean reputation and has led to former Test stars Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich questioning his future as captain.
Sutherland claimed CA needed a “clearer picture” of what had transpired before taking further action, despite Smith having admitted to what he called “a big mistake”.
The CEO also avoided addressing Darren Lehmann’s future as coach, after Smith claimed the mentor had no idea what was being planned.
CA integrity boss Iain Roy and head of high performance Pat Howard are set to arrive in Cape Town today.
“We are in the middle of the game right now and that game needs to conclude,” Sutherland said.
“But over the course of the next couple of days we will get to the bottom of this and we will take appropriate action.
“There is an element process that needs to be undertaken here ... By appointing our head of integrity to this project, it is being dealt with as a matter of urgency and seriousness.”
The Queensland Bulls have been told that they could lose players including Matt Renshaw or Joe Burns – maybe both – when the axe falls on the Australian team in the next few days.
Renshaw made 37 and Burns 49 on day three of the Shield final against Tasmania at Allan Border Field as Queensland managed 3- 232 in response to Tasmania’s total of 477.