Tim Paine would back Steve Smith's replacing him as Australia captain

Australian captain Tim Paine has dressed speculation over wher Steve Smith will again le team once a ban ends in March, saying he would be fully supportive if it happens "one day". Steve Smith skippered team until he was suspended for 12 months over a brazen attempt under his watch to alter ball with sandpaper in Cape Town last year. Part of his punishment included a furr year-long exile from any leership role. Calls have grown for Steve Smith to take over from Tim Paine when ban is lifted, following batting performances that helped Australia retain Ashes against England.

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Tim Paine backs Steve Smith for captaincy

Tim Paine, who will turn 35 in December, on Monday brushed off questions surrounding Australian side's future leership. "I'm enjoying having job at moment... and I certainly hope Steve Smith does captain Australia again one day, and if he does, I'll be fully supportive of it," he told Daily Telegraph.

Tim Paine will t play in this summer's Big Bash League, inste of joining brocaster Channel Seven's commentary team. But he will almost certainly retain captaincy for home summer Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand, despite occasional criticism of his form during Ashes. Tim Paine recently ended a 13-year century drought by scoring his first ton since his maiden century as a 21-year-old in 2006. Coach Justin Langer has praised his leership as "brilliant" and said Steve Smith may t want to take on "burden" of captaincy on top of batting pressures. 

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Justin Langer backs out of form David Warner

Justin Langer said he was "doing a brilliant job at moment". "He's been outstanding in his time as captain. However long he wants to keep playing for is ar thing," he ded. Unlike Steve Smith, former vice-captain David Warner endured a miserable return from "sandpaper gate" scandal, struggling to make double figures against England. But Justin Langer said he still h confidence in explosive opener, who returned to form with a century for New South Wales in Sheffield Shield last week. "He h a poor series against England, doubt. That's just a fact, and he kws that" Justin Langer said. "But he also hasn't lost his talent, because he was highest run-scorer in World Cup two weeks before Ashes started, and he was highest run-scorer in IPL (Indian Premier League) before that. So he can bat. " or thing about David Warner, my experience tells me that you never write off champion players. And he's a champion player."  

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