Tim Paine says Steve Smith will return as Australia captain one day

Smith's captaincy ban will end in March 2020.

Steve Smith and Tim Paine | Getty Images

Australian Test captain Tim Paine, on Tuesday (October 15), broke his silence on the reports whether Steve Smith would again lead the national team once the ban ends on March 2020, saying he was certainly hopeful that former skipper does the same one day.

Paine also insisted that he would be fully supportive if Smith returns to captaincy duty after completing his ban next year. The 29-year-old was suspended for 12 months for his role in the sandpaper gate in Cape Town last year, and captaincy ban for a further year-long was also part of the punishment.

Following his heroics in Ashes 2019, the calls have grown for Smith to take over from Paine when the ban is lifted and Paine insisted he will fully support if the latter gets a chance to lead Australia again.

Read Also: Justin Langer reacts to talks of Steve Smith's comeback as Australia skipper 

Paine told The Daily Telegraph, “I’m enjoying having the job at the moment... and I certainly hope Steve Smith does captain Australia again one day, and if he does, I’ll be fully supportive of it.”

Noteworthy, Paine will not play in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) 2019-20, as he will be joining the broadcaster Channel Seven's commentary team. However, the wicket-keeper batsman would certainly return to lead Australia in the home Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand next month.

(With The Daily Telegraph Inputs)

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 15 Oct, 2019

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