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Tim Paine’s comeback didn’t reach any great heights but his Tasmanian teammates still lauded the impact the former Test captain’s return will have on Australian cricket.
The wicketkeeper made just six as the Tigers were bowled out for 147 at Allan Border Field in their Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland.
Unbeaten Bulls batsmen Joe Burns (35) and Marnus Labuschagne (26) then shone under poor light, taking the hosts to 1-70 in a classy final-hour display to assume full control.
The 37-year-old Paine looked sharp with the gloves on, diving for a low catch to his left to dismiss Matthew Renshaw, who surprisingly opened instead of Bulls captain and Test opener Usman Khawaja.
Former Test captain and wicketkeeper Paine had not played at the top level since April last year following revelations of a 2017 sexting controversy.
Tim Paine on day one of his return to first-class cricket with Tasmania. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images)
He took a summer-long break from the sport but has been training with the Tasmania squad and made a successful return in Hobart grade action last Sunday.
Entering at 5-59, Paine got off the mark with a crisp straight drive but was out edging a cut shot soon after, offspinner Jarrod Freeman’s 44 dragging the Tigers beyond 100.
The 22-year-old Freeman was just five when Paine first played for Tasmania in 2005.
“It’s pretty surreal, pretty special,” he said of sharing the field with Paine and fellow Test veterans Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird.
“With Painey behind the stumps it boosts you 10, 20 per cent and they know what they’re talking about.
“He’s one of the best keepers in the world still, would silly not to have him in the side in that aspect.
“He’s bounced back and showed he’s not done yet, he’s got something to give.”
Mark Steketee (4-43) was the pick of Queensland’s bowlers, while Michael Neser (3-42) took a wicket in the day’s first over in gloomy, seaming conditions.
Paine was greeted by hugs and handshakes by many of the Bulls’ players and staff and Freeman said the mood in the sheds was good despite the state of play.
“It’s good having him back around; it was a tough day for us but we’ll stay positive,” he said.
“History says this ground’s a third and fourth innings ground so we won’t get too down.”
Marcus Stoinis. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Marcus Stoinis is set to return from a side strain, all but ending Cameron Green’s hopes of playing in the Twenty20 World Cup.
Green was left out of Australia’s World Cup squad when it was announced at the start of last month, before starring at the top of the order in the subsequent tour of India.
He remained at the top of the order for Wednesday night’s home T20 against West Indies, partnering David Warner as Aaron Finch moved down to No.4 and bashed a half-century.
It prompted questions over why the all-rounder was not part of Australia’s initial World Cup squad, with ICC rules dictating changes can only be made in the event of an injury.
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The most likely scenario for that loomed in the case of Stoinis, who is sitting out the West Indies series as he battles a side injury.
But Cricket Australia confirmed on Thursday that Stoinis is now fit to return against England, effectively closing the door on Green unless another injury occurs.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Pat Cummins admitted after Wednesday night’s win over the West Indies that he wished there was a way for Green to be in the World Cup squad.
“If you look around Australian venues, you have big squares and bounce. Having a tall fast bowler is really beneficial,” Cummins said.
“You’d like to fit 18 in the World Cup squad at the moment.
“He can bowl in the first six overs and be a real wicket-taking option. If you need someone to bowl in the middle and be aggressive he can do that.”
Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar will also return for the England games, with both part of the World Cup squad named last month.
Mitchell Swepson and Nathan Ellis will also feature in the three T20s against England, the first of which takes place on Sunday at Optus Stadium in Perth.
Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell will skip the first match of the series but be available for the second and third matches in Canberra next week.
“We have a World Cup to win and that is what we have got to peak for,” Cummins said after the narrow win over the Windies on the Gold Coast on Wednesday night.
“There is no point in burning out in these five games. We’ve been over in India for three (T20 international) games as well.
“You might see some people having a rest and in some different roles to make sure we give ourselves the best chance not only for the start of the tournament but the back end if we are there.”
Chief selector George Bailey said they had “planned these matches to ensure our squad get to the World Cup fresh and ready to perform”.
Will Pucovski was out for a duck but allrounder Will Sutherland posted his maiden Sheffield Shield century to keep Victoria in the contest against South Australia at Karen Rolton Oval.
The Bushrangers were in all sorts of trouble at 4-54 and 6-137 before Sutherland came to the rescue with the finest knock of his young career.
The 22-year-old struck 100 off 168 balls, including nine fours and three sixes, to lift Victoria to 9-264 at stumps on day one.
His heroics were all the more surprising given he entered the match with a first-class average of just 14.33 from 21 matches and with a top score of 34 not out.
Sutherland was also left shaken by a big hit to the helmet when he was yet to score.
He was given the all clear to continue after an on-field medical assessment, and he gained in confidence the longer his innings went.
South Australia’s tactic of bowling short to him soon came unstuck as Sutherland began to unleash a series of lusty blows.
Sutherland’s knock came on the same day that his sister, Annabel Sutherland, posted 68 off 76 balls in Victoria’s WNCL win over Tasmania.
She posted a century two days earlier in what has proven to be a magical week for the talented family.
Although Will Sutherland was able to cash in, Pucovski missed out completely.
Pucovski survived a strong LBW shout from Harry Conway on the first ball of the innings. Three balls later he was out when he edged the paceman behind.
It was one of five catches for wicketkeeper Alex Carey across the day.
Peter Handscomb (10), Nic Maddinson (4) and Matt Short (5) all fell cheaply before lunch, while Sam Harper (10) was dismissed after the break to leave Victoria reeling at 5-92.
The damage would have been far worse if it wasn’t for Marcus Harris, who kept his calm amid the carnage to post a finely-crafted 85 off 170 balls.
Once he departed, Sutherland took over in dominant fashion to further drag Victoria to safety.
His innings was eventually ended by a mesmerising Jordan Buckingham delivery that dramatically swung back in to clip the off stump bail.
Buckingham finished the day with figures of 3-52, while David Grant (3-76) and Wes Agar (2-36) also enjoyed success.
Pucovski scored an unbeaten 193 for a Victorian second XI last month in his return from his latest concussion.
Although he was dismissed cheaply on Thursday in his first Shield hit-out of the season, he will get another chance to shine in Victoria’s second innings.
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