Gilchrist names Paine's Test successor

Test legend Adam Gilchrist has nominated Pat Cummins or Steve Smith as the next Australian Test captain but insists the job is still Tim Paine's while the gloveman is in the XI.

Ahead of the first Domain Test against Pakistan, Paine, who turned 35 on Sunday, conceded at his age this summer could be his last in the Test team.

If Paine is no longer in the XI, Gilchrist said Australia's top-ranked batter and bowler could step up into the coveted position.

"I think they've got a couple of options in Smith or Cummins should Paine pull out or they don't feel he's the right man to be in the team anymore," Gilchrist said in Perth on the eve of the opening Test against New Zealand.

"Pat's come out and said he's feeling comfortable now should they call on him. 

"I honestly don't know if it would be good or bad thing for Smithy. 

"If he wants to do it and they feel he's right to do it maybe that would be the right move for the team."

Smith has brushed off talks of a potential return to the captaincy since returning to the national side following his 12-month suspension but Cummins said last week it would be an honour to be Test captain and if offered the top job he might not be able to say no. 

But the right-armer was quick to point out he would not be the finished product and would rely on the experienced players around him if given the responsibility of the Test side.

While Cummins has little captaincy experience to draw on, Paine has a wealth of knowledge and even he still utilises the brains of Smith, David Warner and the squad's senior players.

Paine's on-field assistance from Smith during the Pakistan series has been highlighted but Australia coach Justin Langer said it would be "absolutely ridiculous" for the Test skipper not to tap into the former captain.

But if it is captaincy by committee when Paine's successor is eventually named, Gilchrist still wants there to be one figurehead of the team and dismissed the idea of co-captains.

"I wouldn't be big on co-captains," Gilchrist said. "To an extent there is co-captains.

"Smithy is a co-captain now, no drama with him contributing to conversation in the changerooms or out on the field.

"Someone at the end of the day has to be responsible. 

"From the teams I've played in you like that as a team, you like to know there is someone who will be accountable if it goes wrong, in charge and giving a sense of direction. 

"Everyone contributes to what that direction might be. Someone literally has to keep steering it that way."

However, as it stands Paine is the captain of the Test team for the rest of the summer.

Hot on the heels of the Tasmanian is South Australian Alex Carey, Australia's limited-overs wicketkeeper who has been piling on the runs in the Marsh Sheffield Shield.

In four matches for the Redbacks, Carey has amassed 386 runs with two centuries and an average of 55.14.

While his form at domestic level and during the winter's World Cup is impressive, Carey is still behind Paine as the premier gloveman in the country, according to Gilchrist, who says if the incumbent keeper is in the team he should be behind the wheel. 

"I reckon while ever (Paine) is in the team he should be captain," Gilchrist said. "And then let's see after these three Tests, see how he feels at the end of this summer. 

"I feel it was more of a light-hearted comment when he said it might be his last summer. 

"But like all players that are getting into that age bracket, it's almost a summer-by-summer analysis.

"When you've got a guy like Alex Carey nipping at his heels … he's starting to show some really promising signs of consistency now in his Sheffield Shield cricket. 

"With his overall game and where the attention gets drawn to is his run-scoring. 

"His wicketkeeping seems to be extremely consistent, as is Tim Paine's, but Carey is now starting to really accumulate important runs in first-class cricket, so that is going to really put pressure on him. 

"If he is playing next summer, Tim Paine should be captain of the Australian cricket team. 

"But we will have to see at the end of the summer if he is still in there – whether it's his own personal judgement or the selectors."

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