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Tim Paine has cast doubt on whether he will still be Australia captain for the Ashes next winter amid criticism and ridicule following the astonishing series defeat to India.
An injury-ravaged India team achieved a miraculous three-wicket victory in the final Test at the Gabba to win a classic series 2-1. It was Australia’s first Test defeat in Brisbane since 1988.
Paine was called out by Aussie greats Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist for his leadership during the series and was mercilessly mocked on Twitter after his sledging of Ravi Ashwin spectacularly backfired.
Tim Paine cuts a dejected figure as India claimed a shock series victory over Australia
Paine and his Australia team-mates leave the field after their three-wicket defeat at the Gabba
Paine said he ‘won’t look past the next series’ but believes there is still ‘unfinished business’ if he continues to lead the side.
‘I still feel like I want to get better. We’ve got some unfinished business… and I intend to finish that,’ he said while being jeered by Indian fans at the Gabba.
‘I’ve said many times in the last two or three years that I don’t look past the next series.
‘I’m loving it. I’m going to cop heaps of flak, I know it.
‘That’s what I signed up for…. I’m totally fine with that.’
It was joy for India as they secured a thrilling three-wicket win over Australia to settle the series
The Indian team parade their flag on a lap of honour at the Gabba after a win for the ages
Australia wicketkeeper Paine reaches out in vain as Rishabh Pant plays a shot on day five
Wicketkeeper Paine has been Australia’s captain since March 2018 after Steve Smith was embroiled in a ball-tampering scandal involving the use of sandpaper in South Africa.
But his time may be drawing to a close in the wake of a thrilling series in which a depleted India team recovered from the humiliation of being bowled out for just 36 in the first Test to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
‘I think at times their tactics haven’t been good enough and I suppose that’s got to come down to Tim Paine as captain,’ Warne said on Fox Sports.
‘It’s not just Tim Paine’s fault, the bowlers are allowed to say “Tim I want to do this”, so it’s a combination between the bowlers and the captain.
‘But, at the end of the day, you are captain, you have to take responsibility. He’ll be disappointed.’
Paine lifts the Ashes Urn after Australia retained it by drawing the series in England in 2019 – but he didn’t commit to definitely being captain for the upcoming return series later this year
Australia legends Adam Gilchrist (left) and Shane Warne (right) criticised Paine’s captaincy
Gilchrist added: ‘Captaincy wise, I think he’ll reflect on some of the tactics that he put in place in Sydney [in the drawn third Test] and even here maybe in the first innings, trying to chase down those 10 wickets against India.
‘Maybe it’s taken a little bit of the gloss off his captaincy and his leadership, particularly the incident in Sydney where he came out and admitted that he just got it wrong.’
That incident came when Paine attempted to sledge Indian batsman Ashwin during the third Test, saying: ‘I can’t wait to get you back to the Gabba, Ash, woo hoo.’
Ashwin replied: ‘I can’t wait to get you back to India, it will be your last series.’
Paine then said: ‘At least my team-mates like me, d***head. I’ve got a lot more Indian friends than you do. Even your team-mates think you’re a goose.’
“Can’t wait to get you to the Gabba”
“Can’t wait to get you to India, it will be your last series”
Tim Paine had plenty to say to Ravi Ashwin behind the sticks, but the Indian batsman wasn’t fazed ¿¿
He even watched the Aussie keeper shell one the next over ¿¿ pic.twitter.com/pmUNhMVDIe
— Cricket on BT Sport (@btsportcricket) January 11, 2021
Australia captain Paine (left) and Indian batsman Ravi Ashwin (right) got into a heated sledging exchange during the third Test in Sydney
Paine had a barbed exchange with Ashwin that was picked up by the stump microphone
Paine’s comments came back to haunt him after India’s dramatic fifth-day win at the Gabba with Ashwin, who sat out the final Test through injury, tagging him in a tweet.
Ashwin wrote: ‘Good evening from Gabba!! I am sorry I couldn’t play here but thanks for hosting us and playing some hard cricket during these tough times.
‘We will remember this series forever! @tdpaine36 @CricketAus.’
Many others were quick to pile in.
@Fletcherlad tweeted: ‘Ashwin was so wrong about Tim Paine’s career being over after Aus tours India, its over after this test itself’.
Another added: ‘I thought Tim Paine couldn’t wait to get India to the Gabba..’
One user tweeted: ‘Tim Paine: ‘Can’t wait for the Gabba Test’. Team India: ‘Can’t wait either to slay your fortress and end your 32 year old streak of being unbeaten there”
England are due in Australia for the Ashes at the end of the year and it remains to be seen whether Paine is still captain as his team defend the Urn.
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