Australia Punt on Paine
Agencies|
Updated: Nov 18, 2017, 01.26 AM IST
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine was handed a shock recall after a seven-year Test absence on Friday as Australia gambled on sweeping changes for the first two Ashes Tests against England.
Paine, who has not kept for Tasmania in their opening three Sheffield Shield games because of the presence of incumbent Test gloveman Matthew Wade, comes into the 13-man squad along with batsmen Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh.
In a stunning selection, 32-year-old Paine, who was once on the brink of retirement over a serious finger fracture, was preferred to Wade and Peter Nevill for his first Test match since October 2010. “I wasn’t far off taking a job at Kookaburra so to even be playing firstclass cricket is probably more than I expected at one stage,” Paine said.
“So it feels like a new job at the moment and it’s really exciting.
“I’m enjoying playing cricket again, which is the main part. Four-day cricket has been a bit of a struggle for me in the past few years. So it’s nice to come out the other side and start to play well and enjoy it again.”
Asked if he thought his Test career was over, Paine said: “I thought it was pretty close if I’m honest.
“I’ve been working very, very hard on my cricket, particularly in the last 10 or 12 months, probably more towards white-ball cricket.
“To have this opportunity is amazing. It’s mine to do what I can with it. I’m a little bit surprised, but very grateful and excited by the opportunity I’ve been given in the next few weeks. I feel I’m ready and can’t wait to get up there and make the most of it.
“I’m as ready as I’ve ever been with the gloves and I’m rapt to have the opportunity and I plan on making the most of it.”
Bancroft, a 24-year-old righthander, is in line for his Test debut at the expense of opening batsman Matthew Renshaw following a prolific series of scores for Western Australia in this season’s domestic Sheffield Shield competition. Bancroft, who is also a wicketkeeper, amassed an unbeaten 228 with other scores of 86, 76, 76 and 73 for his state side to force his Test claims, while Renshaw has struggled for runs for Queensland.
Shaun Marsh, 34, makes yet another return to the Australian side and is slated to bat at number six to shore up the batting instead of all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright.
Only five players survive from Australia’s last Test against Bangladesh in September. The first Ashes Test is in Brisbane next week, with the second — a day-night match — in Adelaide from December 2.
Paine, who has not kept for Tasmania in their opening three Sheffield Shield games because of the presence of incumbent Test gloveman Matthew Wade, comes into the 13-man squad along with batsmen Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh.
In a stunning selection, 32-year-old Paine, who was once on the brink of retirement over a serious finger fracture, was preferred to Wade and Peter Nevill for his first Test match since October 2010. “I wasn’t far off taking a job at Kookaburra so to even be playing firstclass cricket is probably more than I expected at one stage,” Paine said.
“So it feels like a new job at the moment and it’s really exciting.
“I’m enjoying playing cricket again, which is the main part. Four-day cricket has been a bit of a struggle for me in the past few years. So it’s nice to come out the other side and start to play well and enjoy it again.”
Asked if he thought his Test career was over, Paine said: “I thought it was pretty close if I’m honest.
“I’ve been working very, very hard on my cricket, particularly in the last 10 or 12 months, probably more towards white-ball cricket.
“To have this opportunity is amazing. It’s mine to do what I can with it. I’m a little bit surprised, but very grateful and excited by the opportunity I’ve been given in the next few weeks. I feel I’m ready and can’t wait to get up there and make the most of it.
“I’m as ready as I’ve ever been with the gloves and I’m rapt to have the opportunity and I plan on making the most of it.”
Bancroft, a 24-year-old righthander, is in line for his Test debut at the expense of opening batsman Matthew Renshaw following a prolific series of scores for Western Australia in this season’s domestic Sheffield Shield competition. Bancroft, who is also a wicketkeeper, amassed an unbeaten 228 with other scores of 86, 76, 76 and 73 for his state side to force his Test claims, while Renshaw has struggled for runs for Queensland.
Shaun Marsh, 34, makes yet another return to the Australian side and is slated to bat at number six to shore up the batting instead of all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Hilton Cartwright.
Only five players survive from Australia’s last Test against Bangladesh in September. The first Ashes Test is in Brisbane next week, with the second — a day-night match — in Adelaide from December 2.
