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Sometimes we want people to succeed so much that we magnify their efforts beyond reason.
Tim Paine was earmarked as an Australian captain in waiting years ago and, at a time when there’s seemingly a leadership void at the top of the tree, the appetite for the Tasmanian wicketkeeper to perform has grown.
The “next Australian skipper” ship might have left Constitution Dock long ago. It hit rocky seas in Bass Straight, lost in a wave of operations to fix a damaged finger, at a time when the forecast was for smooth sailing.
Paine’s unbeaten 74 for the Hobart Hurricanes against the Perth Scorchers on New Year’s Day was seen by some as the perfect start to a fresh slate.
He played all around the ground, never looked troubled and murmurs of an Ashes tour as the back-up gloveman had grown to a deafening roar by the time the right hander had walked off Blundstone Arena.
The innings was impressive, but it was also the first sign that the old Tim Paine was ready to emerge.
It’s easy to forget that Paine already has four Tests to his name. He has two test half centuries and a 47 on his record.
His highest score was 92 against India in Mohali in October in 2010 and he backed that up with 59 in the second Test in Bangalore.
He might still be baby-faced, but several seasons ruined by injury stunted his assault on a spot in the Test side.
Where once he was a fresh faced star on the rise, Paine is now a 28-year-old in desperate need of a strong run of form.
He has all of the attributes to make it. Application is now the key factor.
It’s especially important because there are several contenders to be the deputy to Matt Wade.
Brad Haddin has piled on 337 runs at an almost irresistible average of 67.4 to be far and away the leading contender.
But, for all of his skill and experience, there’s a school of thought that says his re-call would be a step back in terms of the side’s progression instead of a stride forward.
Peter Nevill has 298 runs at 37.25, Chris Hartley 312 runs at 34.6, Tim Ludeman 273 runs at 24.8 and Tom Triffitt 295 runs at 29.5.
They’re hardly numbers that scream “pick me” and the timing of the Big Bash League makes judging form almost impossible.
But that is the predicament Cricket Australia has thrown itself into and they’re going to have to find a way to put a value on T20 form when looking towards the Test arena.
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