There’s a quixotic feel to Tim Paine’s task in 2019, both this week and throughout the year with the away Ashes series but three Tests into the future for his side. On the available evidence, to hold the urn aloft at The Oval in September looks every bit The Impossible Dream, but that doesn’t mean the captain is not aware of what he has to start working towards. With valour, Australia’s knight-errant must travel and serve, however fraught the path ahead.
How the selectors have gone about picking the XI for this Sydney Test highlights this difficulty. “Team balance” has been Paine’s key phrase since Australia’s dispiriting defeat at Melbourne, stating that they are picking the team to win this week – simple as that. In keeping with that sentiment, Paine noted that one of the most important things he has learned as national skipper is staying present in each moment and each match. “Trying not to be too distracted by what’s ahead of us or who’s coming back or who’s not,” he continued. “To keep a little bit of reality around our group, to keep our feet where they are and keep trying to improve. That’s been my focus.”
But there is a natural tension between honouring that goal and setting a semi-credible Ashes tilt. “Good question,” Paine said when this conundrum was put to him in his pre-match press conference. “Obviously we want to pick the best XI that we think can win this Test but at the same time you’re trying to look forward a little bit and make sure you have the right guys around the squad and in our group who we think can be successful across different conditions in Test cricket.” He added: “I know that I’ve probably answered it in two different ways and a lot of people who are critical of selection processes won’t like that, but they’re just the plain facts. That’s what it is.”
This is brought into focus with opener Aaron Finch, who could easily be a middle-order batsman by tomorrow but will be up against it for a spot in England tour where the Dukes ball will be hooping. “We’re happy to changing it a little bit,” Paine replied when asked if he could be shuffling down. “You don’t want to be changing too much. We want to try and settle guys who we think will play long-term in their positions looking forward into the next series and then into the Ashes, we want to settle guys in their positions so as little a disruption as we can have to that or the better in that sense, but at the same time we’ve got to find the best XI to win this Test as well. It’s a bit of a balancing act.”
If Finch does drop down or drop out, Usman Khawaja will return to the top of the list. As the Queensland captain has said consistently this summer, he is equally relaxed starting the innings or coming in at the loss of the first wicket having made two career-defining centuries as an opener when circumstances demanded it, averaging in excess of 100 in the spot.
For Paine, that might require stepping up too. Could it be that he leads the side, keeps wicket for sessions on end then walks out to bat at No 3? Don’t rule it out. “I’ve had some discussions around that,” he said of a potential batting promotion. “It may happen it may not, but I certainly haven’t been setting the world on fire, I need to cash in on my starts as well.”
At six, Marnus Labuschagne is set to make his return having lost his spot after two busy Tests against Pakistan in the UAE. Paine likes the Queenslander’s versatility on the field and vitality around the group. “At the end of a long series his energy has been great the last few days,” he said. “His leg spin’s improved out of sight, and you’re almost leaning towards him at Test level now as a bit of an all-round option.”
The prospect of a turning Sydney track increases the chances that Pete Handscomb will also be recalled after missing out in Melbourne for Mitchell Marsh. “We think it will spin here so if India were to play two spinners Pete can be a really important player for us. He’s an excellent player of spin, and contributes a lot tot the group. And like Marnus he’s a very good package and person to have around the team.” The unlucky man in that formulation would be the younger Marsh, who made a century on the SCG last year but has battled since his elevation to vice-captain.
What Paine is most mindful of this week is that his batsman need to develop the skills required to convert their starts into Test centuries, having posted just one – Khawaja in Dubai – since the last time they played at this ground. With just three opportunities left this summer before an Edgbaston inquisition courtesy of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad in August, there is an urgency around this point. “We are constantly a work in progress,” he said. “The last Test while out batters didn’t set the world on fire most guys got a start and showed that they can succeed at this level, so this Test there is going to be a real focus from our batting group. We know we are not going to win too many Test matches without scoring hundreds.”
For India’s part, the side that they will field in their push to claim a maiden series win in this country is even more mysterious. Ravichandran Ashwin, the visitors’ main tweaker, was ruled out due to a side strain injury when Virat Kohli addressed the media. However, two hours later he was named in the provisional squad of 13 by team management. Equally odd was that Ishant Sharma, the veteran attack leader, was left out of the list, as was seaming all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who looked a lock to play if India opt for two spinners as expected. Misinformation or confusion? Time will tell.
What Paine would give for the chance to lead a world-beating team with the depth of Kohli’s right now. In truth, he may never get the chance during his tenure. But one thing is certain: the service he will provide to his country will be no less committed or determined than the gentleman from La Mancha.
