If the reaction to Smith's shadow batting is any gauge, the former captain still has his work cut out to win back the public after the sandpaper affair.

Smith has kept his cards close to his chest regarding a return to the role. Former teammate Ryan Harris speculated on SEN that Smith may not want his old job back, but others close to him believe differently. That he was not involved in the on-field chatter in Sydney has been noted.

The circumstances of Paine's misdemeanour have implications for Cummins as it showed how difficult the top job is for anyone other than a frontline batsman, a view held by former captain Mark Taylor.

If a wicketkeeper finds it hard, so too will a fast bowler, who must juggle the physical strain of bowling with mental and tactical challenges. Travis Head, a former vice-captain, cannot lead a side he is not in.

If Queensland want their first permanent Test captain since Allan Border (who was a New South Welshman), they should install Labuschagne as state captain. It's a point recognised by Test great Ian Healy, a state director who is also in the running to join the CA board.

"What we'd like to see - if Marnus does become a candidate that's firming - is he becomes the captain of Queensland," Healy said on SEN.

If discussions between CA and Queensland have not occurred already, they should, although opportunities for Labuschagne to play for his state are rare due to the crowded international schedule. The state captain role is also being filled with distinction by Usman Khawaja, 34.

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Labuschagne has revealed his role in the field is to keep morale up with his talk, but being "Captain Chat" is one job he does not need, even if it is important for team dynamics.

"I know I'm always buzzing and always talking and keeping the energy up in the team," Labuschagne said on Friday night.

A cleanskin and model cricket citizen, Labuschagne can be trusted not to let his chat stray into abuse but, as innocuous as his remarks are, the role does him no favours in the court of public opinion or among the baggy green family.

It belies how deeply Labuschagne, who has mentored Paine with the bat, thinks about the tactical and technical side of the game. As the last week has shown, perceptions matter.