Coach Justin Langer backs Tim Paine to lead side until World Test C'ship finals in 2021

Australia's head coach Justin Langer backed skipper Tim Paine to continue at helm of affairs until 2021 and trusted him to lead side successfully till World Test Championship final. Australia, who are second on World Test Championship table, closed in on table-toppers India after defeating New Zealand in second Test. Tim Paine has seen phemenal success as side's Test skipper, from Ashes to ending 2019 on a high te with a win off Boxing Day Test at MCG. 

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Langer backs Paine to lead Australia till 2021

Amid calls for replacing Paine as Test skipper with Steve Smith as latter's ban comes to close and former cricketers suggesting or options, coach Justin Langer firmly believes that Paine is a very important player for side. Citing Paine's performance in 2nd test against New Zealand, Langer said that Paine still had fire in him to lead side. Langer claimed that Paine was best wicketkeeper in world and that his captaincy was excellent along with expressing his love for working with Test skipper.    

"Truthfully, I can't see one reason why he wouldn't. His last game - you judge on his last performance - he was probably pushing to be Man of Match. He had eight dismissals, 70-odd with bat, and way he played his innings was what was most exciting. way he leads group. I just literally can't think of one reason at moment, he's so fit, as to why he wouldn't keep playing for as long as he wants to or needs to," said Langer.

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Unchanged Australian Team for 3rd Test mostly

Australia coach Justin Langer says it will be hard to make a change for third cricket test against New Zealand at Sydney Cricket Ground despite home side having clinched series. Langer was impressed with Mitchell Swepson's work in nets on Wednesday, suggesting legspinner remains in mix to make his debut on Friday, but wouldn't be drawn on Australia's likely starting side. "It's going to be hard to make changes. That said, I think it's really important that we wait ... and see over next two days what wicket looks like," Langer said.

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Australia won first test by 296 runs in Perth and second at Melbourne Cricket Ground by 247, both in four days. Australia will be going for its fifth consecutive test win after beating Pakistan 2-0 before playing New Zealand. Expectations of a spin-friendly pitch in Sydney, as usual, prompted selectors to add Swepson to test squad as a possible backup to Nathan Lyon. Should Swepson be overlooked it would mean plenty of overs for Marnus Labuschagne, who is Australia's form batsman.

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