Injury causes more pain for Australia

Australia may be down to their third-choice captain when they take on England in a one-day international series in June.

Injured captain Tim Paine is set to resume full training within weeks, but is not guaranteed to lead the side through the ODI series. Paine himself has the top job after Steve Smith was banned from top-level cricket following the ball-tampering scandal.

Paine suffered a hairline fracture of his right thumb while standing up to the stumps to fast bowler Chadd Sayers on the third day of the fourth test against South Africa in Johannesburg.

Scans confirmed Paine had hurt the thumb, but he at least escaped surgery, which could have ruled him out of the one-day series.

Paine knows all about hand surgery after seven operations on his index finger over seven years.

Cricket Australia said this week Paine would resume batting and wicketkeeping within three weeks, with the ODI squad expected to be released early next month.

That tour begins with a practice match against Sussex on June 1. The tourists will then feature in five one-day internationals, the first at The Oval in London on June 13.

Fast bowler Mitchell Starc remains in doubt for the tour, as he is still on the mend from a tibial bone stress reaction in his right leg which ruled out of the fourth test against the Proteas and the Indian Premier League. Medical staff will review him again in a few weeks.

While Paine is likely to be fit for the tour, it remains to be seen if he will captain the side, for he has only been confirmed as test captain. Cricket Australia would only say an ODI skipper will be named when the squad is released.