‘I let the pressure of the game get to me’

Tim Paine has apologised for a ’’really poor game as leader’’ in the third test – one that Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar says could spark the end of his Australian captaincy.

Paine had a nasty verbal battle with Indian star Ravi Ashwin on day five at the SCG, as well as dropping three catches and setting questionable fields as the match ended in a draw, despite Australia’s strong prospects of victory.

Paine addressed his behaviour yesterday after a torrent of criticism, stepping up for a snap press conference.

‘‘I want to apologise for the way I went about things yesterday. I’m someone who prides themselves on the way I lead this team and yesterday was a poor reflection of the team,’’ Paine said.

‘‘I let the pressure of the game get to me. It affected my mood and from there, it affected my performance.

‘‘Initially I reflected purely on my wicketkeeping. Last night I reflected on the whole game.

‘‘I’ve had a really poor game as a leader. I’m a captain who wants to enjoy the game and wants to play the game with a smile on their face. Yesterday I fell short of my expectations and our team’s standards.

‘‘I’m human. I want to apologise for the mistakes I made yesterday.

‘‘It’s certainly not a reflection of the way I want to lead this team. We’ve set high standards over the last few months and yesterday was a blip on the radar and something that I felt that I needed to come out and address.

‘‘Bitterly disappointed with the way I went about it. I feel that my mood throughout probably the whole test match was a bit off. The way I spoke to the umpires early on day two was also unacceptable.

‘‘I’ve got to cop that on the chin. It’s not the way I want to lead this Australian team. It’s certainly not a reflection of how I want to do it going forward.

‘‘I’m really looking forward to getting to Brisbane and bouncing back and playing the game more like Tim Paine plays the game. Yesterday was a poor reflection of that and not something I want to be known for.’’

Paine also insisted that there was nothing sinister in top batsman Steve Smith seemingly scratching away the batting guard of India’s Rishabh Pant during the final day.

Smith was seen roughing up the crease area with his spikes, though he was also shadow batting – something that he does incessantly on and off the field.

He said that Smith was dismayed by claims of unsportsmanlike behaviour – even ‘‘cheating’’ from former England paceman Darren Gough.

Paine was installed as captain after Smith’s reign was ended by the balltampering scandal. He has been credited with leading a major cleansing of the national team’s culture, long marred by brazen hostility towards rivals.