Determined to remain Australia’s Test wicketkeeper despite resigning as captain, Tim Paine made a strong return to cricket on Monday for Tasmania’s Second XI team.
With chief selector George Bailey in attendance at Lindisfarne Oval, Paine showed a customary safe pair of hands with six first-innings catches against the South Australian Second XI.
The match was Paine’s first since undergoing neck surgery in September but the 36-year-old is expected to be fit and available for the first Ashes Test from December 8.
Paine had been due to play grade cricket for the University Cricket Club in Hobart on Saturday, a day after his shock exit as Test skipper due to a sexting scandal, but wet weather intervened.
Despite the layoff and controversy, Paine’s glovework was slick – featuring a couple of sharp diving catches and another up to the stumps off spinner Ben Manetti – as the South Australian Second XI was rolled for 165.
Paine will bat in the middle-order during the four-day match. He’ll want to maximise his time in the middle with Australia’s three-day intra squad game looming as his only other hit-out before the Ashes.
There’s no guarantee Paine will keep his spot in the Test team.
Alex Carey and Josh Inglis – who were both picked in an Australia A squad last week – have been touted as potential immediate replacements. Matthew Wade is another contender to come back into the side.
Shane Warne, writing in his column for News Corp over the weekend, gave a big push for West Australian gloveman Inglis to be presented with his baggy green.
“Tim has thought of the team, been unselfish, by standing down now. But as I’ve said it’s time to move on,” Warne wrote.
“You’d say Alex Carey’s performance over a long period of time would have him as the leading candidate to come into the side.
“Wade has had his chance and didn’t quite nail it but after his World Cup heroics should he be given another crack.
“Or should the selectors go for the young Josh Inglis? Inglis gets my vote.
“He’s got silky smooth hands behind the stumps, he’s a 360 degree player with the bat and coming off three first class hundreds last season for WA.
“He’s a great team man who I saw first hand at the London Spirit this year. He’s 26. Bang, get him in.”
Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy supported Paine continuing in the Test team but said both Carey and Inglis had claims.
“Carey, I don’t think he’s done anything wrong not to get that job, and he’s just young enough at 30 years old,” Healy said.
“Having said that, my selection – my leapfrogging selection in 1988 – would have been Josh Inglis. That’s what I did, they threw me in over five or six keepers, that’s probably the way you get a 10-year player.
“Carey certainly deserves to have a go, but if George Bailey and his selectors say, ‘No, we’re going to go young and build the future’, then it looks like Josh Inglis or Jimmy Peirson, but I’d say it’s Josh Inglis, who has absolutely jammed the door with his foot.”
Paine, however, has so far been steadfast in wanting to play in the Ashes.
In an interview with the Herald Sun, Paine reiterated that desire.
“I wasn’t going to retire, I’d been pretty clear I wanted to keep playing, and potentially finish after this Ashes series,” he said.
“I see that as the ultimate high, to be able to finish your test career after winning an Ashes series in Australia. That’s the dream.
“That’s what I want to do. To go and represent my country, well, and help win the Ashes.”
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia is under fire for not disclosing the investigation which cleared Paine of breaching its code of conduct in 2018.
As the search for Paine’s successor continues, Cricket Australia chair Richard Freudenstein has confirmed that former captain Steve Smith will be considered to reclaim the top job, though many believe fast bowler Pat Cummins is set to be appointed.
Cummins would provide a fresh start while Smith’s reinstatement could cause Cricket Australia’s decision-making to come under further scrutiny.
AAP reported quotes from an unnamed “notable former captain of Australia’s Test side, who questioned CA’s approach at the critical juncture [of the Paine investigation]”.
“They’re still trying to cover things up,” the former captain said.
“Go back to 1994, when Mark Waugh and Shane Warne were found with John the bookmaker. They tried to cover that up, it didn’t come out until ’98.
“They haven’t learned anything.
“If Paine’s not fit to be captain now, which he’s obviously not, then once they found out (in 2018)
that should have been it.
“The only reason I assume Paine kept his job is because they liked him at board level, there is a major problem if that’s how you base your judgements.
“If they were to appoint Smith, as captain or vice-captain, I’d be asking the same question. If he wasn’t fit for the captaincy back then, why is he suddenly fit now?”
Australian Cricketers’ Association boss Todd Greenberg defended Paine.
“Not a lot has changed in the last four years, other than that the matter has become public,” Greenberg told SEN.
“Tim went through this investigation at the time, he was very forthcoming.
“He made an enormous mistake. But what of us have not made mistakes?
“We need to be careful about saying whoever will take over the captaincy will be perfect as well.
“We’re not appointing the Archbishop of Canterbury here … if our expectation is the captain is perfect, we will be in a lot of trouble.”
Rellum
Roar Guru
Just watching Philippe, hard pass
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think we go with carey but we need to give inglis a match so England can’t select him as he was born there . We want these two competing for the position and both are very talented . Could be a dead rubber in Perth where inglis could play . More experience the better before India / sub continent tours next year
Clear as mud
Guest
cobra?
Frank delosa
Guest
That actually all makes perfect sense Jeff. Thanks. Broad will be fine, expect him to skittle Warner and Harris with ease. Anderson has a look on his face like the guy next to him dropped a filthy egg fart. Stokes is one guy who I want to see fail in this series. Not only is he a thug, a braggard, a swindler, a dandy, a liar and a cobra but his inclusion as the saviour of ENG cricket has been the biggest joke in cricket since Sandpapergate. The biggest chad, flog, crooner, snake and vagabond in cricket (after Kohli that is). Still, the La Nina conditions are going to boost the Poms swing bowling and our bats are not up to it methinks. 2.1 weeks until showtime and our XI is a scattered, disjointed mess. No captain, no keeper.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The England/England Lions game is not much more than a glorified nets session. Most our players are way ahead in terms of playing competitive cricket. Our players on the GC will be as well placed getting monitored and coached in the nets as the England players will be in this match. Focus will be on whether Broad can avoid reinjuring his calf, Stokes remembers how to play cricket and how to keep Anderson hydrated as he wilts in the QLD humidity. Their next intra match will be a more exacting affair.
Frank delosa
Guest
Yes, been watching the Shield. Good to see Street amongst the runs. Would love either him or preferably Hunt in with Warner. Yes but the key AUS players are stagnating in the resort. Im guessing Smith is serenading them with his poor guitar skills and even worse voice. Classics like April sun in Cuba and Hotel California just getting butchered whilst cool tropical drinks are supped and nachos eaten. Meanwhile the Poms are out doing the hard graft of practicing and getting focused whilst the AUS selectors are rotting away watching Paine play in a TAS 2nd XI match. Wow, earning their salaries there. The comment about Whiteman was a rib tickler. Maybe 5 years ago as a test smokey. No chance now. Selectors wont move on from Paine, even if he grasses chance after chance in the Ashes. Selectors need to give Paine a chance to "stand up", show them he is a "hard" guy to get out and that he can "finish"
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"How do Harris and Maddinson get excused from the current Shield match while all other AUS and AUS A players are in their Shield matches???!!" They're quarantining, having come from NSW and Victoria. "I love how the Poms are allowed a tour match but we stuck in quarantine , likely doing no Ashes prep" Have you not been watching the Sheffield Shield?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Whiteman: It will be the last place we hear it too.
Except he's a terrible keeper? Did you not see his fails with the glove in the world cup?
Frank delosa
Guest
Kurtis Patterson in the Test Side!!! How is he not in AUS A at least? Most overrated players for NSW: Jason "the chad" Sangha and Jack "look at me im a private school boy" Edwards. Smokey for the test keeping spot: Sam Whiteman. You heard it here first.
Frank delosa
Guest
Can someone explain something to me: How do Harris and Maddinson get excused from the current Shield match while all other AUS and AUS A players are in their Shield matches???!! Is Harris so arrogant that he is locked in that he doesnt need to practice (he bloody well does!) Or is it a quarantine type issue??? I love how the Poms are allowed a tour match but we stuck in quarantine , likely doing no Ashes prep. Can imagine Zampa and Stoinis flouncing around the pool giving each other wedgies and rear admirals like they are 14 year olds. Maybe Starc will slip on a banana skin and end the bowling selection issue. MCG Trust, I'm turning in my life membership. I'd like my money back.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Then ripped out 4 of the first 5 wickets...and scored another 44. Initially rearguard then attacking
jameswm
Roar Guru
If that's true he has to firm to start the first test
jameswm
Roar Guru
Inglis is the worst batsman of the options? Have you seen his record in the last 2 seasons?
jameswm
Roar Guru
Why do you need both of them in the team? Neither is in the top 6 batsmen in the country.
jameswm
Roar Guru
I agree with Warnie. Shivers...
Wes P
Roar Rookie
Warns says "tap your head and jump on the spot"!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Well I was in favour of Inglis, but if Warney backs him I’m not sure given some of his recent calls, like Stoinis for the Test team. On the hand Healy knows about keeping so if he says Inglis I’m reassured. And he has an excellent point about trying to get a ten year player like Healy himself, or bringing in Gilchrist before he got too old. You can make a case for Inglis or Carey or even Peirson on the basis of batting, but keeping skills should be just as important. Interesting to note that Inglis scored at 85/100 balls in the Shield last year which was 20 better than the next best, Darcy Short. He sounds like a bit of a Gilchrist. On the other hand, Carey has been batting higher up the order at 5 and 6, and some of his bigger scores have been under greater pressure against tougher opposition. (Eg Hazlewood, Starc and Lyon in March).
Frank delosa
Guest
Richardson having a brilliant Shield match whilst Starc does nothing in quarantine. Will Jyhe be picked ? Nope. Disgraceful. ENG tour match played behind closed doors. Disgraceful.
Frank delosa
Guest
Inglis for mine. Get him in! Love how Bailey is watching Paine's game and the fact they are great mates and business partners. Paine could drop 5 moth-eaten, trds in the toilet and they would appears as gold nuggets to Bailey. The majority of catches he took were standard, 2 were quite good but nothing other keepers couldnt do. Lets all hope Paine fails with the bat in the match and then we can all move and and lose the dead weight that Paine has been for the past 24 months.