Statesman Paine empathises with CA administrators handling COVID crisis

The last two weeks have seen an ominous return to fears of unrest between those playing cricket and those running the sport in Australia. And it wasn’t helped by the parting of ways with former CEO Kevin Roberts and the standing down of 40 staff across the board, including batting coach Graeme Hick.

The last few months incidentally, despite the lack of live cricket, have also seen Tim Paine’s potential and growth as a leader within the Australian cricket system take centre-stage, and not just because of the widespread popularity of The Test. And on Tuesday (June 23), the Australian Test captain showed why his innate leadership skills aren’t restricted to just being on the field.

Not only did Paine stand up for Cricket Australia (CA) in terms of their handling of the Covid-19-induced financial issues, he also showed great empathy in defending ousted CEO Roberts while taking a very diplomatic stance on the negotiations between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association (ACA).

“At the moment yeah I do, yep,” said Paine when asked whether he still backed CA before adding, “What I understand is it’s a difficult role and sport and business in general at the moment is very difficult when there’s these Covid-19 restrictions, there’s financial worries, there’s TV rights, there’s so many different things that go into it.

“What I will say is I certainly am happy I’m not in a position where I’m governing any sport at the moment in Australia. I think at times we’ve got to remember they’re just people, they’re trying to do their best in a very difficult situation, sometimes you’ve just got to give them the space to do it.”

Speaking of “people trying to do their best”, Paine talked up the role that Roberts had played in his senior role and also expressed disappointment at reports of there being a breakdown in relationships between the former CEO and his teammates.

“I’ve got to know Kevin really well on a personal note. He’s been great support to me in my time as captain. From a personal point of view, I’m certainly sad to see him go. I’ve spoken to him and let him know that. One of the reasons I did want to ring him was because it was reported a few times that he had a poor relationship with the players. And he certainly didn’t. Kevin was well-liked and well-respected among our playing group,” he said.

Paine’s defence comes at a time the players and the ACA have expressed great dissatisfaction with CA’s projected revenue losses of 48 per cent, even if it’s far less pessimistic now considering the Indian tour looks likely to go ahead. He believed that the negotiations between the two parties, unlike in 2017, would take place in more amenable circumstances and would eventually result in the “best deal” for Australian cricket.

“CA and the ACA are working hard behind the scenes to make sure the best deal is done and obviously CA want the best deal for CA and the players want a good deal also. But I think as it probably always does, it works its way out and will land somewhere in the middle. That’ll be the best deal for the game of cricket,” he said.

“At times it’s been reported that the ACA and CA and the players are fighting, and I don’t think that’s always the case. When things like this happen, there’s a negotiation and it doesn’t mean that it’s all bad blood and the players hate CA and CA hate the players and the ACA don’t like this and that. I think at the moment, everyone is working together,” the skipper added.

Paine also insisted that in contrast to being disappointed by the apparent in-fighting within Australian cricket, he instead was “really proud” of the way his playing group had handled the various situations. He also revealed to not have been surprised by the potential cash crisis that CA are facing in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Paine was also very prudent while talking about how he’d approach the return of live international cricket, which could resume as early as in two weeks’ time when the West Indies take on hosts England in the first Test in Southampton. But while admitting to being “fascinated” about watching exactly how that series works out, he wasn’t sure whether it would provide a definite blueprint of how Test cricket would be in the post-pandemic future.

“It’s going to be for someone like me and Justin and the Australian international players, something we’re going to watch really closely because you want to sort of be able to prepare for what might be happening but again I’ve found if you try and lock your way into one way of thinking at the moment, then the next week or the next day it changes. So, the key word we’ve spoken about a few times is to be able to adapt and the best teams will do that whatever is thrown at them,” he said.

Paine though was back to his tongue-in-cheek best while addressing a few questions about the much-awaited Test series against India scheduled for later in the year. While he spoke about not being too fussed about whether his team gets to face Virat Kohli & Co at the Gabba or the new Perth Stadium, his response to what his personal pick would be was, “the Blundstone Arena in Hobart” – his home-ground where he’s yet to play a Test.

When asked about which team the lack of crowds would benefit, he quipped, “I’m probably the only one in the last few years who’s played in front of empty houses.” And he countered with “I was hoping you might be able to help me with that to be honest” to being asked if he thought his team could find a solution to get rid of Cheteshwar Pujara this time around.