Tim Paine ‘wasn’t expecting’ to be part of ODI squad

Tim Paine, the new captain of Australia's one-day international side for the tour of England, has said that he wasn't expecting to be part of the 50-over set-up at all.

According to a cricket.com.aureport, Paine had been told by selectors earlier this year that he was not part of the plans for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 in the United Kingdom, where Australia go in as defending champions.

But everything has changed since the ball-tampering incident in the Cape Town Test, which led to Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft being banned. It opened the door for Paine to take charge of the Test team and now the ODI team.

“I certainly wasn't expecting to be part of the one-day set-up going forward, that was the information I was given,” said Paine. “But obviously with the events that have happened, I'm thrilled to have been given another opportunity.”

At the time of announcing Paine as the ODI captain, and Aaron Finch as the captain of the Twenty20 International side, Trevor Hohns, the Chairman of Selectors, had said that Paine’s appointment was a temporary one, adding, “A decision on a permanent one-day captain will be made in due course.”

Paine, who has only played 30 ODIs for 854 runs and 45 dismissals, acknowledged that. “I've been told it's an interim role at the moment. But I'm in the side and I am the captain so my goal is to make it last ... to play as long as I can,” he said.

He was also hoping that despite the presence of Alex Carey, he does well enough to be in the World Cup squad.

“I want to be involved in the World Cup if I can,” he said. “This is a huge opportunity for me to go over to where the World Cup is going to be held, against the best team in the world, play well and captain well and show I've got plenty more to add in one-day cricket.”

Australia’s limited-overs tour against England includes a five-match ODI series, starting on 13 June at The Oval, and a one-off T20I.