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Former Test captain Tim Paine will make his return for the Hobart Hurricanes in their Christmas Eve Big Bash League game against the Melbourne Renegades, after captain Matthew Wade received a shock suspension.
With alternate wicketkeeper Ben McDermott also not selected for the match, Paine will make his BBL return for his first T20 match since the BBL07 final in February 2018.
Cricket Australia released a statement in the hours before the game that Wade had received a one-match ban for incurring a third Level One Code of Conduct breach during the Hurricanes’ recent loss to the Sixers.
The captain uttered an audible obscenity during the match, also kicking his bat after being dismissed.
“Hobart Hurricanes player Matthew Wade has been suspended for one KFC Big Bash League match,” a CA statement released on Saturday afternoon reads.
“Wade received one suspension point after incurring three Level 1 Code of Conduct breaches within 18 months. The charges in that period relate to two instances of use of an audible obscenity and one instance of abuse of cricket equipment.
“Wade is suspended from today’s KFC BBL12 match between the Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades at Blundstone Arena, Hobart.”
Having stepped away from professional cricket following his resignation as Test captain in the wake of his texting scandal 12 months ago, Paine’s career appeared done when he wasn’t offered a Tasmania contract for the 2022/23 summer.
However, the wicketkeeper made his Sheffield Shield return earlier this month as a COVID substitute for Jake Doran, who tested positive mid-match.