Tim Paine to get extra pre-Ashes hit-out
Tim Paine is set to play an additional match on return from neck surgery as the former Test captain seeks to allay any concerns about his fitness before the Ashes.
Teammates are rallying around the 36-year-old wicketkeeper, who stepped down as Test skipper on Friday when a sexting episode from late 2017 was made public.
Paine has been named in Tasmania's 12-man squad for a one-day clash against Western Australia on Friday at Bellerive Oval.
He is playing a second XI game for Tasmania in Hobart and was originally expected to head to Queensland after the match for an intra-squad game involving the Test squad beginning December 1.
Paine will now link up with the Test squad on Sunday or Monday.
The one-day game will give Paine, who spent about six months sidelined with injury, a crucial extra high-level hit-out.
Former players, including Shane Warne, have questioned the merits of keeping Paine in the Test team, given the sexting scandal, his age and lack of game time.
Paine has taken nine catches in the second XI game but failed with the bat, scoring just one run.
He could get another chance with the bat on Thursday.
Test batter Marnus Labuschagne has reached out to Paine with messages of support, while opener Marcus Harris believes the veteran gloveman will be welcomed back with open arms.
"I'm a close friend of Tim and I love and support him so I hope everything is going well for him," Labuschagne said in Adelaide on Wednesday.
Harris said Paine, who was appointed Test captain in early 2018 after the ball tampering saga, has been a great leader.
"Knowing Painey and his character, he's a pretty strong and resilient bloke. If anyone can get through it, I'm backing Painey to," he said on Wednesday.
"He's done a really good job in the last few years, under tough circumstances.
"You'd probably still argue that he's still the best gloveman in the country and he still played some really important innings last summer against India.
"I know he's got the support of all the players."
