Australia captain Tim Paine played fifth Ashes Test with broken thumb

The 34-year-old will miss this summer's Big Bash to focus fully on the red-ball game and leading the Test team forward

Tim Paine has revealed he captained Australia during the fifth Ashes Test against England at The Oval with a broken thumb.

Joe Root's side squared the series at 2-2 after a 135-run victory, but the urn remains in the tourists' possession.

Several of Australia's players were on their last legs at the end of a gruelling tour, with Paine and seamer Peter Siddle struggling with various ailments.

"There’s a bit of recovery to be done," he told The Australian. "My thumb was broken towards the end of that Test but it is not displaced, so I should be right to get back into training early."

On Siddle, who returned match figures of 2-113 with the ball and 18 and 13 not out with the bat, the wicket-keeper batsman added: "Peter Siddle tore a hip flexor bowling on the first morning. 

"He has copped a bit of criticism for not bowling as well as we know he can, but the team knows just how heroic he was.

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"A lot of other people wouldn’t have bowled again in the match, but he pushed on because he didn’t want to leave Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins to do extra work. He’s a warrior, Sidds, and we love him deeply for that."

Australia are back in Test action when they face Pakistan twice in November before hosting New Zealand in a three-match series.

Entwined with the clash with the Kiwis is the annual T20 competition the Big Bash. Paine has represented the Hobart Hurricanes in previous editions but will focus purely on the red-ball format with stateside Tasmania.

"I’m keen to see just how far we can take this team and I’ve decided to give up the BBL so I can concentrate on red-ball cricket and being in the best place to lead them," he added.

"Being captain is draining and I think I should take every chance to recharge my batteries. I’ll go back to the BBL when I’m finished, but for now my focus is on my main job."