Tamper trio still rub raw

AUSTRALIAN captain Tim Paine is keeping an open dialogue with his Test teammates amid whispers of discontent after the ball-tampering saga.

Paine, who took over as Test skipper after the Cape Town scandal, will lead Australia’s 15-man squad for the one-day international series in England in June.

National selectors are yet to settle on a permanent ODI skipper but have backed Paine for the first assignment under new coach Justin Langer – without suspended trio Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.

Warner’s role as architect of the ball-tampering plot means he will never again hold a national leadership position, and some of his teammates are reported to have said they never want to play alongside the 31year-old again. With members of the Test squad on leave, Paine has made it a focus to maintain communication in the wake of the disastrous South African tour.

“I’ve certainly been trying to stay in touch with as many of the Test players as I can, whether that be via the phone or text messaging,” he told RSN radio yesterday.

“Certainly communication is a real key in any leadership role, and in Cricket Australia in particular it can be challenging because we don’t come into the club every Monday.

“It’s a challenge but it’s something you’ve just got to find the time to do and make sure you’re continually touching base with players and keeping everyone on the same page.”

Paine said he had kept in touch with Smith, Warner and Bancroft and was keen to see them return once they had served their suspensions.