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'Not good enough': Aussie cricket greats call out Tim Paine

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·3-min read
Aussie captain Tim Paine (pictured) looking frustrated walking off the field.
Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist have criticised Aussie captain Tim Paine (pictured) for his tactics during the India series. (Getty Images)

Aussie cricket legends Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist have placed the spotlight on current captain Tim Paine for his leadership during the series against India.

Paine’s performance and leadership have been under microscope after the last two Test matches as Australia have struggled to close out the series in commanding positions.

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The captain may have put in a good shift with the bat during the series, often digging deep to help lift Australia to competitive totals, but has made numerous mistakes behind the stumps.

This was compounded with an ugly spat with Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin during the SCG Test, which prompted an apology from the captain following the match.

Warne said Paine had not enhanced his captaincy or keeping reputation during the series.

He was critical of Paine’s captaincy in Sydney, where Australia had around 130 overs to bowl India out, and even in Brisbane where he feels he missed the mark.

“I think at times their tactics haven’t been good enough, and I suppose that’s got to come down to Tim Paine as captain,” Warne said on Fox Sports.

“It’s not just Tim Paine’s fault, the bowlers are allowed to say ‘Tim I want to do this’, so it’s a combination between the bowlers and the captain. But at the end of the day, you are captain, you have to take responsibility. He’ll be disappointed.”

Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins talk leaving the field as a rain delay.
Tim Paine, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins are seen leaving the field as a rain delay is called during day four of the 4th Test Match. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Gilchrist added even Paine will look back at his tactics and question them following a draw in Sydney and a likely draw in Brisbane to teeter out the series.

“Captaincy wise, I think he’ll reflect on some of the tactics that he put in place in Sydney – and even here maybe in his first innings, trying to chase down those 10 wickets against India,” Gilchrist added.

“Maybe it’s taken a little bit of the gloss off his captaincy and his leadership, particularly the incident in Sydney where he came out and admitted that he just got it wrong.”

Shane Warne (pictured) has questioned Tim Paine's captaincy during the India series.
Shane Warne (pictured) has questioned Tim Paine's captaincy during the India series. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Paine continues tough ride with DRS

On Sunday, Aussie captain Paine continued his miserable history with the DRS, and one burned review left fans and commentators perplexed.

Paine asked for a review for caught behind, but replays showed the ball was well away from Naveep Saini’s bat when it passed the Indian tailender.

Many felt like the Aussies were getting desperate after an extraordinary partnership from Sundar and Shardul Thakur brought India right back into the game.

“That’s an absolutely awful review,” wrote sports reporter Mark Gottlieb.

“Total desperation stuff from Australia. Shades of Headingley.”

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