Test skipper Tim Paine still has plenty left to give the Australian cricket team, says former Tasmanian teammate Ricky Ponting.
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Widely acclaimed for rebuilding the national side following the 2018 sandpaper incident in South Africa, Paine came under fire in January as Australia lost a four-Test series to an undermanned Indian side.
Former Indian Test great Sunil Gavaskar led calls for the 36-year-old to be replaced as Test captain following dropped catches and a sledging incident involving Ravichandran Ashwin.
But Cricket Australia backed in their man, spending 'not even a minute' discussing Paine's captaincy when picking a squad for the since-postponed tour of South Africa.
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Back in his home state this week to speak at a Federal Group function, Ponting agreed speculation surrounding Paine's career and captaincy had been unfair.
"I got a bit angry at the end of the summer when the knives were coming out and everyone was talking about 'it's time to move on'," Ponting said.
"He'll finish when he's ready to finish, he deserves to be given that opportunity I feel."
Since taking over as Australian captain in 2018, Paine has scored six of his nine Test 50s.
His batting average of 32.66 from 35 Tests is as good as any keeper since Adam Gilchrist, with only Brad Haddin (32.99) averaging more and Matthew Wade (29.87) and Peter Nevill (22.28) both averaging less than 30.
In 2019 he became the first Australian skipper since Steve Waugh to retain the Ashes in England, while 2020 saw him reach 150 Test dismissals quicker than any other keeper (33 Tests).
Paine has registered 11 wins, eight losses and four draws in 23 games as captain.
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"He took over the team at the lowest point in Australian cricket's history and when you looked around that team, he took over because there was no one else to do it," Ponting said.
"I think him and Justin [Langer] and some of the senior players have single-handedly rebuilt the brand of the Australian cricket team and probably Australian cricket to a certain degree.
"Three years ago, no-one wanted to talk about the Australian cricket team.
"Now, up until the last Indian series, everyone loved the Australian cricket team and loved the players and got to learn a bit about the players.
"The players have opened up themselves and taken it on to share themselves with the country and the cricket fans out there and that's all leadership.
"All those naysayers out there, get off the little man's back and give him some time.
"He'll be a good player and a good leader for a long time to come just yet, don't worry about that."
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Paine was a late withdrawal from Tasmania's Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria on Friday after waking up unwell.
His absence left ex-Test paceman Jackson Bird to captain the Tigers, while veteran opener Alex Doolan flew out from Hobart as a late call-up, arriving at the MCG more than an hour after the game had started.