Captain Tim Paine has predicted a “very exciting era” for Australian cricket after the team retained the Ashes against England, while revealing he broke his thumb in the final Test. The series was drawn 2-2, with Australia keeping the urn as the Ashes holders despite losing the last Test at the Oval by 135 runs. “I’m looking forward to Australia seeing how far we’ve come this summer,” Paine said in a column for The Australian newspaper, referring to upcoming home Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand.
“Last year we were a bit lost and were finding our way,” he added after the side struggled in the wake of the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa.
“I know we have found it now and I am confident this group is the beginning of a very exciting era in Australian cricket.
“We’ve got the best bowling attack in the world and the basis for a great batting line-up.”
