Not sure, but Australian summer could be my last: Skipper Paine

Brisbane, Nov 18 (SocialNews.XYZ) Australia captain Tim Paine on Monday said the upcoming Test series against Pakistan and New Zealand could be the last time he leads the side at home.

"It might be (my last summer), I'm not too sure," Paine told reporters. "But... I'm enjoying doing it. I feel good physically (and) mentally. So while that continues, I'm scoring enough runs and keeping well enough, then I'd like to continue.

"I know when you get to my age that can change really quickly. I'm really looking forward to this summer, beyond that I haven't looked too far. I know what I want to do and what I want to achieve.

"I think when you're the Australian captain and the Australian keeper, they're two of the most critiqued roles in Australian sport and at the moment I have to hold them both. I know I'm going to be in the crosshairs for people all the time."

Wicketkeeper Paine, 34, took over the reins after former skipper Steve Smith was handed a one-year suspension last year for his role in the ball tampering scandal.

There have been talks of restoring Smith as captain as his exceptional performance at the Ashes where he amassed 774 runs.

Asked about his aim as skipper, Paine said Australia's top priority is to reclaim top spot in ICC test rankings and win the World Test Championship (WTC) where they are right now placed fifth in the points table.

"Our goal is to get back to that number one ranking and we want to win that Test Championship," he added. "To do that we're going to have to be good enough to win in India and we're going to have to be good enough to beat everyone, everywhere.

"It's the only way we're going to get to where we want to get to. It's an exciting period and I'm looking forward to being part of the start of that and there is no end point at the moment."

Australia take on Pakistan in the first of two tests starting on Thursday in Brisbane.

Source: IANS