Former Victorian keeper Darren Berry has backed Tim Paine to stay in the Test team for The Ashes, even if he’s no longer the leader of the side.
Berry said Paine had “no choice” but to step aside as captain after the leaked text messages were published yesterday, but that he’s earned his spot in the team on merit.
“I would like to say from the outset, if he is available, he is the best wicketkeeper in Australia,” Berry said on SEN Radio.
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“Nobody condones what’s happened, it’s wrong, but he hasn’t killed anybody, he hasn’t robbed a bank, he’s made a horrible mistake that he’s going to have to live with, with his family and I feel for him, even though he’s made a horrible mistake.”
Paine resigned as captain on Friday afternoon, but said he would remain available for selection and at this stage, is still going to be the glovesman for the first Ashes Test at the Gabba in a fortnight.
“If you’re looking for the best wicketkeeper/batsman to play the first Test, he’s not captain, I’m picking Tim Paine,” Berry said.
“If he plays this weekend and he plays the Australian A game and he keeps and he’s saying I’m fit to go, I’m picking him, now that’s going to divide opinion.”
Paine is set to play grade cricket and then for the Tasmanian second XI as he recovers from a bulging disc.
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Berry said it was almost certain that Pat Cummins would be the short-term captain of the side, but offered a smokey for the team’s long-term future.
“Given the immediacy of it, I think they will go to Pat Cummins, and he deserves (it), he’s vice-captain, but personally I don’t like a fast bowler as captain,” he said.
“I think Cummins will get first crack at it, he needs a vice-captain and Travis Head or Usman Khawaja, one of them will bat at number five, they’re both state captains, they can provide vice-captaincy, Steve Smith, not for me as captain, but he’s going to provide strong leadership and direction.
“I’ll give you a smokey, it’s not going to happen in the first Test, but someone who I believe can captain Australia… I’ll just give you a name to consider, Mitch Marsh to captain Australia in Test cricket next year.”
Marsh is fresh off a heroic performance at the T20 World Cup, but would be a bold captaincy choice given that currently he’s not even in the Test team.
The first Test begins on December 8.
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