<p id="thickbox_headline">Australia's Pat Cummins will contact Tim Paine before the Ashes opener on Wednesday seeking some late inspiration ahead of the fast bowler's debut as captain against England at the Gabba.</p>.<p>Paine, who resigned from the captaincy over a 'sexting' scandal last month, led Australia to their first retention of the urn in England for nearly 20 years at the drawn 2019 series.</p>.<p>Cummins said he had a number of chats with Paine about leading the team since the wicketkeeper stepped away from the game on a mental health break, and would continue to do so.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-confirms-india-itinerary-starting-with-boxing-day-test-1058297.html" target="_blank">South Africa confirms India itinerary starting with Boxing Day test </a></strong></p>.<p>"Yeah, it’s been good to chat. He still obviously wishes he was up here and part of it all but he needs to be home," Cummins told reporters on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"He’s going alright.</p>.<p>"I’ll probably give him another call this arvo (afternoon) and keep leaning on him for different ideas on how to work with our players. He’s got great experience.</p>.<p>"Great guy, (I’ll) keep learning off him."</p>.<p>Having been vice-captain under Paine, Cummins takes the reins of the team earlier than expected and said his promotion had yet to fully sink in.</p>.<p>He said he was trying to pick out some of the winning qualities of a number of Australia's recent test captains.</p>.<p>"It's almost crazy being the 47th men's test captain," he added.</p>.<p>"The lineage of Paine, Smithy, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh -- they're legends of the game that I grew up watching.</p>.<p>"Steve Waugh was with us in the Ashes last time. He was great, how simple he kept things.</p>.<p>"Michael Clarke made me feel 10 feet tall when I walked out to bowl, even if I didn't feel like I was super-confident. Ricky Ponting is a great people person.</p>.<p>"Again, it hasn't probably hit me yet. It's great."</p>
<p id="thickbox_headline">Australia's Pat Cummins will contact Tim Paine before the Ashes opener on Wednesday seeking some late inspiration ahead of the fast bowler's debut as captain against England at the Gabba.</p>.<p>Paine, who resigned from the captaincy over a 'sexting' scandal last month, led Australia to their first retention of the urn in England for nearly 20 years at the drawn 2019 series.</p>.<p>Cummins said he had a number of chats with Paine about leading the team since the wicketkeeper stepped away from the game on a mental health break, and would continue to do so.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/south-africa-confirms-india-itinerary-starting-with-boxing-day-test-1058297.html" target="_blank">South Africa confirms India itinerary starting with Boxing Day test </a></strong></p>.<p>"Yeah, it’s been good to chat. He still obviously wishes he was up here and part of it all but he needs to be home," Cummins told reporters on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"He’s going alright.</p>.<p>"I’ll probably give him another call this arvo (afternoon) and keep leaning on him for different ideas on how to work with our players. He’s got great experience.</p>.<p>"Great guy, (I’ll) keep learning off him."</p>.<p>Having been vice-captain under Paine, Cummins takes the reins of the team earlier than expected and said his promotion had yet to fully sink in.</p>.<p>He said he was trying to pick out some of the winning qualities of a number of Australia's recent test captains.</p>.<p>"It's almost crazy being the 47th men's test captain," he added.</p>.<p>"The lineage of Paine, Smithy, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh -- they're legends of the game that I grew up watching.</p>.<p>"Steve Waugh was with us in the Ashes last time. He was great, how simple he kept things.</p>.<p>"Michael Clarke made me feel 10 feet tall when I walked out to bowl, even if I didn't feel like I was super-confident. Ricky Ponting is a great people person.</p>.<p>"Again, it hasn't probably hit me yet. It's great."</p>