Tim Paine hints at retirement, says Australia's home summer might be his last

Tim Paine was handed the responsibility of steering the Australian side after former skipper Steve Smith was handed a one-year suspension last year due to his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal. The wicket-keeper became the first Australian skipper after Steve Waugh to retain the Ashes.

However, Smith’s grand return to international cricket has rung the alarm bells for Paine. Smith, who bounced back to the game in style, amassed 774 runs in the Ashes and strengthened his chances of being restored as Australia’s skipper. Amid the talks of Smith taking over the skipper’s role in the near future, Paine has hinted that Australia‘s home summer may prove to be his last. The 34-year-old also expressed that he has not looked too far and he knows what he wants to do and achieve.

“It might be (my last summer), I’m not too sure. But… I’m enjoying doing it. I feel good physically (and) mentally. So while that continues, I’m scoring enough runs and keeping well enough then I’d like to continue. I know when you get to my age that can change really quickly. I’m really looking forward to this summer, beyond that I haven’t looked too far. I know what I want to do and what I want to achieve,” Paine was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“I think when you’re the Australian captain and the Australian keeper, they’re two of the most critiqued roles in Australian sport and at the moment I have to hold them both. I know I’m going to be in the crosshairs for people all the time,” he further added.

Tim Paine and Co are fifth in Tests

Australia will now lock horns with Pakistan in the two-match Test series starting from November 21 in Brisbane. Ahead of the Test series, Paine identified that Australia’s prime objective is to return to the top of the Test rankings and win the World Test Championship (WTC). The Australian skipper also highlighted that his side needs to be good enough to win matches on the Indian soil.

“Our goal is to get back to that number one ranking and we want to win that Test Championship. To do that we’re going to have to be good enough to win in India and we’re going to have to be good enough to beat everyone, everywhere,” said the 34-year-old.

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