Former Australian Test captain Tim Paine believes there’s no need to overreact after Australia‘s ODI series loss to Pakistan. Paine pointed out that several key players were rested to prepare for the upcoming Test series against India.
With Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins all sitting out the third ODI, Australia suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat. After posting just 140 in 31.5 overs, Pakistan easily chased the target to secure their first series win in Australia since 2002.
Paine emphasized that resting the star players now was crucial for Australia’s preparations for the Test series against India and the 2025 Champions Trophy.
“That annoyed me. Six or seven guys were in that team. Let’s just pump the brakes on the, ‘I can’t believe we’re seeing this performance from the world champions’. We’re blooding some youth to give them experience at the international level whilst the big boys get ready for two hugely important series – one in Test cricket and one in white-ball. Relax. It’s okay,” he told SEN Tassie.
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh will miss both the ODI and T20I series due to paternity leave. Australia narrowly won the opening game by two wickets while chasing 203, but struggled to reach 200 in the next two ODIs when batting first.
Tim Paine responds to criticism of the world title holders
Tim Paine also expressed confusion over the commentators exaggerating the significance of the series loss, mentioning this in the same conversation.
“People were saying, ‘Oh, I can’t believe how bad the Australian cricket team are’, these are cricket commentators and world-class cricket commentators saying, ‘I can’t believe what I’m watching, this the World Cup holders’. No, it’s not. The World Cup holders are sitting on the couch getting ready for a Test series.”
Australia and Pakistan will face off in three T20Is, beginning Thursday, November 14.
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