Given Tim Paine remains available to play for Australia in the upcoming Ashes series, former Victorian wicketkeeper Darren Berry believes if fit, the Tasmanian should be picked to play in the first Test against England on December 8.
Paine announced his resignation as Australia captain on Friday afternoon after being involved in a sexting scandal that occurred in 2017.
Despite not condoning the actions of Paine, Berry believes purely on cricketing ability, the 36-year-old is the best wicketkeeper-batsman in Australia.
“As the Australian captain, with the revelations, he had no choice but to stand down as captain,” Berry said first and foremost on SEN Drive.
“I would like to say from the outset, if he is available, he is the best wicketkeeper in Australia, nobody condones what’s happened, it’s wrong, but he hasn’t killed anybody, he hasn’t robbed a bank, he’s made a horrible mistake that he’s going to have to live with, with his family and I feel for him, even though he’s made a horrible mistake.
“But I want to say, and people will disagree, if he’s available, I would pick him.
“If you’re looking for the best wicketkeeper/batsman to play the first Test, he’s not captain, I’m picking Tim Paine.
“If he plays this weekend and he plays the Australian A game and he keeps and he’s saying I’m fit to go, I’m picking him, now that’s going to divide opinion.”
With Paine’s batting ability often scrutinised, Berry feels with an average of 32.63 at Test level, he’s got no issues with his talent as a batsman.
“No issue whatsoever with Tim Paine batting at number seven and being the Australian wicketkeeper,” he added.
Furthermore, following the scandal, the Australian cricket team are left without a captain and with the Ashes series less than three weeks away, Berry believes fast bowler Pat Cummins will be given the role for the first Test match at the Gabba.
However, he believes come next year there might be a ‘smokey’ who will take over the role.
“Given the immediacy of it, I think they will go to Pat Cummins, and he deserves (it), he’s vice-captain, but personally I don’t like a fast bowler as captain. History says that it’s bloody tough to bowl 10 overs, go to fine leg and go, ‘now I’ve got to move the field’,” he added.
“I don’t like fast bowlers as captains, I’ve played under a couple and they’ve been okay.
"I think Cummins will get first crack at it, he needs a vice-captain and Travis Head or Usman Khawaja, one of them will bat at number five, they’re both state captains, they can provide vice-captaincy, Steve Smith, not for me as captain, but he’s going to provide strong leadership and direction.
“I’ll give you a smokey, it’s not going to happen in the first Test, but someone who I believe can captain Australia… I’ll just give you a name to consider, Mitch Marsh to captain Australia in Test cricket next year.”
Paine had to undergo surgery in September this year to repair a pinched nerve in his neck, and if he is to play this weekend for Tasmania, it'll be his first appearance since that surgery.
He took over as Australian Test skipper in March, 2018.