Australia skipper Tim Paine is set to undergo neck surgery but team medicos remain confident the veteran will be fit for the Ashes.
Paine was slated to start his Sheffield Shield campaign on September 28, when Tasmania face Queensland in Brisbane.
The wicketkeeper is instead expected to be sidelined in the early stages of the domestic season.
Australia are upbeat Paine will be cleared to resume training by the end of this month, and that he may be able to squeeze in at least one Shield game before linking up with the Test squad.
The Ashes are slated to start on December 8, giving the 36-year-old plenty of time to prove his fitness for the Gabba series opener.
However, any form of setback could cast doubt on Paine’s prospects of facing England.
Paine, who required seven rounds of surgery to repair a recurring finger injury that started in 2010 and threatened to end his career, has demonstrated plenty of stoicism in recent years.
But it is understood his current neck issue requires an operation.
Paine and teammates haven’t played a Test since suffering an unforgettable loss to India at the Gabba in January.
Australia are scheduled to host Afghanistan in a one-off Test, starting November 27 in Hobart, but that match is set to be scrapped because the Taliban’s stance regarding women’s sport.
Cricket Australia is likely to schedule an alternate Ashes tune-up but it remains unclear whether it will be an intra-squad contest, tour game involving England, or replacement Test.
“The consensus of the spinal surgeon and the CA medical team was to have the surgery now which will allow plenty of time to fully prepare for the summer,” Paine said in a statement.
“I expect to be able to restart physical activity by the end of this month and be back in full training in October. I will be ready to go by the first Test and am very much looking forward to what will be a huge summer.”
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I didn't make up anything . Paines always on the self politically correct attempted statements which are t actually pollitically correct . As for the results on the field against India at home and england away when he made so many blunders they speak for themselves Paul. Lost two key series and drew one under Paine that could have had different outcomes but for his decisions
Paul
Roar Guru
Perhaps you should contact CA to find out how Paine managed to have this surgery done so quickly, rather than make up stories as you've done
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Here here smith should be captain anyway . Paine is a mediocre decision maker on field
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Not to wish him any ill will but shame the minor operetion can't take place in December particularly when major surgery needs to take place in front of minor surgery with all our lockdowns increasing minor surgery wait times ..oh but hey Timmy goes straight in as urgent ..essential service perhaps tut tut
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
What CA are too dumb to realise is by refusing to risk a backlash appointing Smith captain again, they are watering the long since sowed seeds for an even bigger outcry over Paine continuing in the role increasingly unnecessarily. Digging a new hole to fill another as the saying going.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Stop it. You'll burst somebody's bubble.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Inglis for me too, but looks like Paine will be fine. The more pressing question is keeper and captain roles after the Ashes. Paine may decide to stay on, but boy the debate will be intense during this summer nonetheless. Carey seems to get slotted in for the captaincy in ongoing commentary, but TBH, from the limited I have seen of him at the helm I don't see it. He was gawd awful when captaining Aus A last summer and was as woeful as Paine with DRS during the white ball this winter.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Sounds like back to full training by October and playing by early November. All seems fine. Tim Paine seen coughing outside his local barista in Hobart - "Covid concerns for Paine raise questions over Ashes availability" :laughing:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
And to think I nearly fell for it …. :laughing: :laughing: I don’t identify as a Tim Paine hater but I do hate the cowardly CA who refuse to make the call on Smith captaining again, despite his ban served, and Paine’s useful life as captain long since expired. Not against Paine remaining as keeper if he is indeed the best keeper in the land. I don’t want to reignite the debate on should Smith again should he not, but I feel certain if they did make him captain, the feared outcry would be minimal and then the Smith haters would quickly get over themselves.
JGK
Roar Guru
Time to withdraw Patty from the T20 WC and make his stay back and get captaincy lessons.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Gee, if Paine is out, that starts to even out the potentially missing England players. (cue 3,2,1....)
DTM
Roar Rookie
The questions are: 1 Who is the best keeping option for Australia? Would it be a 50/50 Tim Paine, an untried Josh Inglis or Alex Carey? Inglis for me. 2 If Paine doesn't play, who takes over the captaincy? Patty "Superman" Cummins, Steve "SP" Smith, Marnus "I've never captained before" Labuchagne or maybe Nathan "The Goat" Lyon? Unfortunately, I think it has to be Smith as I honestly feel the others do not have enough experience to lead the team in an Ashes series.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Medical setback puts Tim Paine's Ashes campaign in doubt" "Australia skipper Tim Paine is set to undergo neck surgery but team medicos remain confident the veteran will be fit for the Ashes." The title was designed to attract the attention of the Tim Paine haters but the first paragraph shows this is a story abut a seemingly minor operation that shouldn't affect him for the Ashes..