Tim Paine conceded his future in Australia’s one-day team is up for discussion after his side slumped to a 5-0 ODI whitewash at Old Trafford on Sunday. Australia managed just 205 with the bat but put in their best bowling performance of the tour to have England in dire straits at 8-114.
It took an ODI knock for the ages from England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler, who hit an unbeaten 110 when the next best score was No.10 Adil Rashid’s 20, as he blunted the Aussie attack to steer England home with eight balls to spare.
Paine scored just 36 runs across the five matches, the lowest ever return by an Australian ODI skipper in a five-match Series.
“It’s been difficult, you play cricket to do well and this series I haven’t done that,” Paine said at Old Trafford in the aftermath of defeat.
“I haven’t played anywhere near as well as I would have liked to.
“That happens and it’s certainly not through a lack of effort, I am trying my guts out and working really hard, I have just had one of those series.
Paine’s appointment as ODI skipper had been a temporary measure in the wake of the leadership vacuum created by the ball-tampering fiasco in March’s Cape Town Test. National Selector Trevor Hohns, on announcing the one-day squad for this tour, had said: “Tim is a strong leader and will captain the side for this series, supported by Aaron (Finch). A decision on a permanent one-day captain will be made in due course.”
“I haven’t thought about it to be honest. All I know is I was coming here to do this series and I’ve said a few times before when you are my age it’s a bit foolish to look ahead,” Paine said.
