Tim Paine will be Australia’s wicketkeeper for the first two Ashes Tests this summer after the Tasmanian was named in a 13-man squad on Friday morning.
News of Paine’s selection leaked to the press last night, with critics of the decision quick to point out his lack of Sheffield Shield form – he hasn’t kept for the Tigers this season due to Matthew Wade taking the gloves, and hasn’t scored a Shield century since 2006.
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But selector Trevor Hohns threw his support behind Paine, hailing his recent form with the bat in first-class cricket.
“Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” Hohns said
“His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.”
Paine beat out the incumbent Wade, as well as fellow contenders Peter Nevill and Alex Carey, to earn selection for Australia.
Cameron Bancroft, who had been touted as another option to take the gloves, has been included in the squad at the expense of Matthew Renshaw, and is set to open the batting alongside David Warner.
Many had tipped Renshaw to retain his place in the side, but a horror run of scores for Queensland in the opening three rounds of Shield cricket forced selectors to opt for Bancroft instead.
The West Australian has been in scintillating form recently, producing an unbeaten double-century for the Warriors in their latest Shield outing against South Australia.
That came on the back of an impressive performance against New South Wales, when Bancroft carried his bat in the first innings against the first-choice Test attack with 76 not out then followed it up with 86 in the second dig.
“Cameron has been a player of interest to us for some time now, having been unlucky to miss out on the Test tour to Bangladesh that was cancelled in 2015,” said Hohns.
“He is a very talented and tough cricketer who shows a good temperament for Test cricket.
“He has thoroughly earned and deserves his call-up following some outstanding performances in the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition this season.”
Bancroft’s state teammate Shaun Marsh has replaced Glenn Maxwell as the side’s number six batsman despite some indifferent form. Marsh is averaging a tick under 40 with the willow so far this season, less than Maxwell (40), Jake Lehmann (49.8) and Daniel Hughes (70.33).
Chadd Sayers is a surprise inclusion as a back-up paceman, picked with an eye towards the second Test on his home ground at the Adelaide Oval.
“Chadd’s inclusion in the squad is with a view to the Adelaide Test and the conditions that we may see there.
“He swings the ball with good control and knows the conditions well at his home ground.
“He gives us this bowling option if required.”
Jackson Bird, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are the other bowlers to have earned selection.
Steve Smith is the side’s captain and David Warner his deputy, with Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb the other two batsmen in the squad.
Steve Smith (c) (New South Wales)
David Warner (vc) (New South Wales)
Cameron Bancroft (Western Australia)
Jackson Bird (Tasmania)
Pat Cummins (New South Wales)
Peter Handscomb (Victoria)
Josh Hazlewood (New South Wales)
Usman Khawaja (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Shaun Marsh (Western Australia)
Tim Paine (Tasmania)
Chadd Sayers (South Australia)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Ashes Tests will not be played in India.
Don Freo
Guest
This was going to be Tasmania's first win for the year Rob. They got there because of Doolan and support from Paine. Why would they declare? They had to take Vic out of the game. They had a day and a half to take 10 wickets after Doolan and Paine batted. They took 5 wickets despite missing almost a day with rain. The weather was the problem, not CA.
Don Freo
Guest
Of course he has. In what universe hasn't he? Look at this summer. Marsh has outscored everyone.
Don Freo
Guest
There's one Matt on this site that speaks sense but I always get him confused with this Matty. It could be MattyB. Whatever, I know now that it is MattyH that is strange.
Don Freo
Guest
Atrociously. So far off beam in so many places. Ed Cowan! Really?
Don Freo
Guest
Broken finger. I would have thought every cricket follower knows Paine's story.
Don Freo
Guest
Ben, your comments are on the same level...just more childish ("What have you been smoking"! What a kid!)
Don Freo
Guest
Hilton and Maxi both know Shaun is better than them. Steve Smith knows it too.
Don Freo
Guest
You'd be the only one muting. He is the most elegant batsman in world cricket.
Don Freo
Guest
A reason Langer is respected is because he says what he thinks. You would respect him more of he didn't speak honestly? You have strange expectations of our elite leaders.
Don Freo
Guest
Matth, you don't need Trevor to tell you that. Just line up runs scored and averages in cricket played this summer. JLT and Shield, Maxi falls short of what Shaun has done...as does everyone else Maybe Bancroft has just got Shaun on aggregate (although I don't think so) and Mitch might have him for average. You'd have to be a West Australian to have better numbers this summer. Probably why they are picking them.
Don Freo
Guest
Perry, do you really think cricket followers are going to think you know what you are talking about if you call Paine a "part timer"?
Don Freo
Guest
"Hiding"? If he bats #3 you'd complain it's victimization of Ussie. Lets have all of the top 6 open so that no one is "hiding".
Bunney
Roar Rookie
Both Cartwright and Maxwell played in Australia's last test, but Maxi played the last four, whereas Cartwright played only the last test, as a replacement for Khawaja who was deemed couldn't play spin in Bangladesh. So, SMarsh has really replaced Maxi
Don Freo
Guest
It seems I have the mind of an Aussie selector. One of us gets things right. You think he gets out to the short ball? Really? Show me/us what you know about this.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I agree partially, Rob. Marsh for Renshaw- yes. Bancroft for Wade- yes please. And keep Maxwell in. Bancroft/Maxwell at 6/7, any order. Long batting line-up, good WK, enough bowlers. Job done!
Don Freo
Guest
True. Make that 2013, not 2103. Even I would run out of patience if we had to wait that long.
Don Freo
Guest
Are you referring to that run of ducks almost 5 years ago and all the 50 (and Hundreds) in recent times? There's your answer. Don't believe the Smith is anti-Maxwell stuff. That's just dumb people on social media saying that. This is not about picking one because you hate the other. It is about seeing folk in form and making a choice.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
No chance, pal... No chance. In fact, I'm saving this link for after the Ashes, just so I can say "I told you so!".
Ben Brown
Guest
Once again Don Freo showing he knows nothing about cricket and his clear bias towards all WA cricketers especially the Marsh brothers.