Langer says adversity has moulded Paine into a better skipper

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New Australia coach Justin Langer feels that Tim Paine’s difficult career path has helped him become a better leader.

Paine’s second coming to the Australia team was born out of jam-packed schedules that saw the team exclude their Test players from the squad to face Sri Lanka in three T20Is in 2016.

The Hobart Hurricanes and Tasmania wicketkeeper was a natural choice for skipper in that young group and would use the experience to force his way into the Ashes squad as a replacement for the misfiring Matthew Wade.

Paine had spent six years in the international wilderness after his initial foray into cricket at the highest level was cut short by poor form.

Langer feels that Paine has what it takes to lead Australia through a trying time after the ball tampering scandal that overshadowed their series loss in South Africa.

Speaking to gathered media after his first day with the ODI and T20I squads Langer said: “What I like about Paine is, he’s been through some really tough times.

“There was probably talk he might be a future Australian captain when he was 22 or 23. And then he had this really tough time.

“It’s always good to see people get through the adversity and then come back hopefully better.

“The leadership is important. Whatever levels, whether it’s the captain or the vice-captain or the guys who haven’t got a title next to their name, leadership’s very important.”

Australia have picked two wicketkeepers in their ODI squad with a view to preparing for next year’s World Cup but Langer admitted that Alex Carey was unlikely to be in the XI for the first ODI against England.

When asked if Carey and Paine might feature in the same XI: “Probably not. Alex and I haven’t spoken about this yet, but we’ve got enough specialist batsmen there, and with Painey now as the captain, he’ll wicket-keep.

“I’m sure Alex Carey will obviously get opportunities in the T20 at this point.

“If I was to pick my first seven (ODI) batters now, he (Carey) wouldn’t be in it. But we’ve only got eight batters – so he’s not far off.”

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord’s

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final

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