Tim Paine is the toughest pretty boy I've ever met: Justin Langer

Australia Test captain Tim Paine has had a tough time after he took over the leadership mantle from Steve Smith midway through the Cape Town Test match earlier this year in March. The 34-year-old keeper from Tasmania hasn’t been able to win the Aussies a single Test and recently Australia also lost the opening Test against India by 31 runs at Adelaide Oval under Paine’s leadership.

He is now in with a stern task of helping the home team make a comeback in the second Test in Perth, which is scheduled to get underway on Friday, December 14. In the last match, Paine suffered a blow on his troublesome right index finger and his participation in the next Test has come under the clouds. However, Justin Langer reckons he would fine and hailed him as a tough lad.

It’s going to be hot on Friday

“He is the toughest pretty boy I’ve ever met in my life. He could have snapped it [his finger] in four places and he would be right. He is fine. He has had issues with it before. But he is 100 per cent ready to go,” Langer was quoted as saying in Sportstar Live.

The Australian pace attack was lacklustre in Adelaide as it was unable to keep the Indian batsmen on the mat despite picking up some early wickets. Their bowlers were severely criticised, especially Mitchell Starc, who didn’t quite look at his very best. The left-arm speedster got five wickets for 103 runs, however, most of his scalps were lower order batsmen.

Speaking about the fast bowlers’ performance in Adelaide, Langer remarked: “We probably just felt short in not wearing down the Indian bowlers enough this Test match. It’s going to be hot on Friday. Hopefully on a wicket which is conducive to a little bit of swing and seam, the bowlers will get the job done.”

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