Tim Paine seems to be getting better as captain: Nathan Lyon

Nathan Lyon, the wily off-spinner, has lavished praises on Tim Paine, the Australian Test skipper. Paine was made the national captain back in March 2018 after Steve Smith was suspended for a year following the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. The Tasmanian Paine took over as the captain from the middle of the Newlands Test in Cape Town.

In 19 Tests as captain, Paine has won 10 of them. In fact, under his leadership, the Aussies have won their last five Tests, including retaining the Ashes on English soil last year. Lyon, who plays for New South Wales in the domestic circuit, said that the 35-year-old Paine has been growing as a leader and his ways of leading has been unbelievable.

Tim Paine took the captaincy on in the hardest time

“Tim Paine has been absolutely incredible for the Australian cricket team,”  Lyon was quoted as saying to the reporters on Tuesday, April 14. “The way he’s gone out and led this team, it’s been unbelievable to be honest … I truly believe that he’s growing each and every day, he seems to be getting better as captain,” Paine stated.

Lyon said that when Paine became the skipper, the circumstances were challenging. At a time when the tampering saga had marred the reputation of Australian cricket to a large extent, Paine didn’t give up the ghost, and rather weathered the storm.

“If you looked around that change-room at that time, I think Tim Paine really got up in my eyes, really stood up and could take that challenge on. He took the captaincy on in the hardest time in Australian cricket and he’s done an amazing job,” he added.

Paine was also the ODI skipper in Australia’s five-match series against England back in June 2018. The visitors went on to lose the series 5-0 and Aaron Finch was subsequently given the mantle in the 50-over format after Paine’s poor show.

In the meantime, Lyon is looking forward to playing India in the series, which is scheduled to start later this year in October. Moreover, he had words of praises for Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, calling him an absolute superstar.