Paine to have 'big say' on VC: Langer

Test skipper Tim Paine should get a major say on who’s picked to be his vice-captain, if new head coach Justin Langer's "controversial" stance on leadership appointments is implemented.

Cricket Australia is holding off naming a new Test vice-captain following the 12-month bans handed down to former captain Steve Smith and his deputy David Warner from the Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.

Paine has been named as Smith's permanent replacement and the likes of Mitch Marsh and Pat Cummins are among a host of contenders to be the new second-in-charge when the Test team faces Pakistan abroad later this year.

Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood told News Corp last week that the Ashes-winning Test bowling attack of himself, Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon would be open to the vice-captaincy.

"A lot of the batters are starting off or at different parts of their careers," said Hazlewood. "The bowling attack is steady and we’ve all pretty much cemented our spots in the team."

Langer revealed Wednesday that, prior to his appointment as the national men’s team coach in all formats earlier this month, he told Cricket Australia’s team performance chief Pat Howard that establishing a strong bond between captain and vice-captain would be a priority if he was handed the job.

And while the Test vice-captain will ultimately need to be ratified by the CA Board, Langer believes Paine’s opinion should be the most important in determining his deputy.

"My view has always been that the captain – and this might be a little controversial – should have a pretty big say in who the vice-captain (is)," Langer told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"You need to know as captain, or any leader, that your lieutenants have got your back and you trust them. 

"We've had some small discussions about it, but I'm the sort of person who weighs up all the information, talks to people I trust and then makes the decisions.

"There were four things I spoke to Pat about when he asked me if I was interested in (the head coaching position). The second one of those was that the captain is very important – (and) the captain and vice-captain relationship is very important. 

"We've got to learn from the past and make sure we get that right."

Langer said initial discussions on the Test vice-captaincy will take place in Brisbane next week as he readies Australia's limited-overs squads for upcoming tours of the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe at the Bupa Natonal Cricket Centre.

With Paine also named as the interim skipper for the one-day international component of the series against England, the new captain and new coach look set to develop a relationship which Langer insists must be based on delineating on- and off-field responsibilities.

Which, the 47-year-old says, was a key aspect of his successful six-year stint in Western Australia where he fostered strong working relationships with captains of the Warriors and the Perth Scorchers.

"The coach has a really important part to play in managing," Langer said.

"What worked really well for Simon Katich, Adam Voges and, last year, Mitch Marsh, was (saying to them), 'You trust me that I'll get the team really well prepared and I'll keep an eye on these little things. I'll trust you'll do a good job (as captain)'.

"In the meantime we support each other in what we do. We work together rather than (saying), 'I'm the boss' or 'you're the boss'." 

Langer also flagged the likelihood of a flood of Test players being picked on a planned Australia A tour of India later this year, which is expected to held prior to the Pakistan series.

"There's an Australia A tour to India where there's a couple of four-day games," said the former opener, who made two centuries in 20 Tests on the subcontinent. 

"I imagine we might leave our selection for Pakistan (in) the UAE quite late, use that build-up and use that match practice. 

"I'd suggest it might be a pretty strong Australia A team going to India." 

Qantas tours of England and Zimbabwe

ODI squad: Tim Paine (c), Aaron Finch (vc), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye

T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, Jack Wildermuth

Qantas Tour of England

June 7: Warm-up v Sussex, Hove (D/N)

June 9: Warm-up v Middlesex, Lord's

June 13: First ODI, The Oval (D/N)

June 16: Second ODI, Cardiff

June 19: Third ODI, Trent Bridge (D/N)

June 21: Fourth ODI, Durham (D/N)

June 24: Fifth ODI, Old Trafford

June 27: Only T20, Edgbaston (D/N)

Qantas T20I tri-series Tour of Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 1: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Monday, July 2: Pakistan vs Australia

Tuesday, July 3: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Wednesday, July 4: Zimbabwe vs Pakistan

Thursday, July 5: Pakistan vs Australia

Friday, July 6: Australia vs Zimbabwe

Sunday, July 8: Final