by Corona Man » Tue Jan 12, 2021 9:01 am
Booney wrote:Q. wrote:Paine has been a tremendous leader since taking over after sandpapergate, but geez, today's drop catches and the gall to sledge after costing us the game really tarnished his image.
Absolutely.
I'm on the record ( more than once ) for my thoughts on the spoilt, entitled brats the Australian cricket team had become under Smith and Lehmann with Warner the "bulldog" and the side slipping into the dangerous space of losing respect and, more worryingly, not offering their opponents respect. That lack of respect was what caused sandpapergate, they thought they were above everyone and could do anything.
Paine changed that, so too Langer ( I have my reservations about him ) and they deserve the accolades that come with it but yesterday was a step backwards to those darker days and Paine, to his credit, acknowledged he needed to be better both in his personal performance and the way he leads the team. So, while he was in the heat of battle he crumbled, it shows character to admit the situation got the better of you and you need to be better.
Yes Paine took over the team in difficult circumstances, and in the early days of his tenour, was following the CA script.
As time has past, Paine's performance as the leader of our national side has come under more scrutiny, no doubt, and its a bloody tough gig.
Paine's demeanour at times in the last 2 test, has been noticeably poor. Rather than lead, and pick the other 10 blokes up and take him with them, he has sooked, dropped F bombs, sledged poorly, and let his own performance slip. We all drop catches, and they were not straight forward chances either. But at this level at least 1, if not 2 of them should have been held.
I'd be very surprised if there are not conversations happening about who the next captain is, and when that transition begins.
Do we go back to Smith...... I don't know to be honest. Not sure who else there is really, Cummins has enough to do thanks!
1961, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015.... And don't you forget it!