Ashes 2021/22: Tim Paine’s brother Nick slams Cricket Australia after fifth Test in Hobart

Amid the celebration of Australia’s 4-0 Ashes triumph in Hobart, Tim Paine’s brother launched a scathing attack on those who ‘shafted’ the former skipper.

Tim Paine’s brother has slammed Cricket Australia for “shafting” the fallen Test captain and robbing him of a fairytale Ashes farewell in Hobart.

The proud Tasmanian was a glaring absentee from the week of Hobart’s first ever Ashes Test, with Paine flying interstate with family as he still struggles with the mental fallout of the sexting scandal which cost him the captaincy and his career.

Paine’s older brother Nick took to social media less than an hour after Australia clinched their 4-0 Ashes triumph on the wicketkeeper’s home turf to take aim at administrators for “turning its back” on the captain who led Cricket Australia out of sandpaper-gate.

The brother of former captain Tim Paine has slammed Cricket Australia. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“Pretty hard to watch this knowing full well that one of the key people in resurrecting the reputation of Cricket Australia and this team was shafted by that very same organisation because of a personal mistake he made nearly four years ago,” said Nick Paine.

“He deserved this send-off on his home ground in front of his family, friends and his long-time supporters.

“It’s just a real shame that one mistake in life (that the person was cleared and exonerated by an inquiry) can end a kid’s dream but then for others who make them, they come back and it’s all OK and in a way forgotten.

“Double standards from an organisation that clearly doesn’t have the back of its people.

“A local boy on his local ground in front of his people.

“Gut wrenching stuff.”

Nick Paine finished his emotional post with a broken heart emoji.

Australian captain Pat Cummins said the players felt for Paine as they celebrated in his home change rooms.

“For sure, we spoke about that. Six or seven weeks ago, that was going to be Painey’s moment,” said Cummins.

“We missed him yesterday. It’s great for a small state like Tasmania. We’ve got match referee David Boon, our selector George bailey, commentator Ricky Ponting and there’s some great history around.

“Painey is a really tight mate with a lot of the boys here so we missed him last night.”

Paine absence being keenly felt in more ways than one

Alex Carey’s struggles have cast a fresh light on the slick standards of his predecessor, Tim Paine, who has deliberately slipped into the shadows for the Hobart Test.

Paine will be nowhere to be seen in Hobart this week; the former Test captain has decided it would be better for his own wellbeing to be out of town when the Ashes arrives on his doorstep.

It was more than likely that this fifth Test would have been Paine’s farewell match for Australia, and there could have been no more fitting a send-off for one of the greats of Tasmanian cricket than to play for his country on his home ground Bellerive Oval.

“He’s going OK is how I’d describe Tim,” Australian Cricketers Association boss Todd Greenberg said recently of Paine’s ongoing struggle.

The final Ashes Test in Hobart would have been the perfect send-off for Tim Paine, who had done so much for Australia in the recovery from the ball tampering saga.

“He’s terribly disappointed he’s not playing cricket and I’m disappointed he is not playing cricket, too, but we are keeping in close contact and we’ll help him through it.”

Since the sexting scandal broke, Paine has been well supported by teammates and coach Justin Langer, who have kept in regular contact with him and would have rallied around him this week.

But despite the support he would have received from them and Hobart locals in what is a historic occasion for Tasmanian cricket, it’s understood the 37-year-old felt the enormity of it all might have been too much at a time when he has asked for privacy for he and his family.

But Paine should not be forgotten.

Carey’s torrid Sydney Test was a reminder just how difficult a job Test wicketkeeping is, and how underappreciated Paine was as a gloveman.

Paine received plenty of plaudits as captain of the Australian team for his outstanding leadership during a tough era for the game, but there was rarely enough recognition for his class as a wicketkeeper, as critics argued by the end it was only his status as skipper keeping him in the team.

There was a constant spotlight put on Paine for his batting numbers, but he averaged 40 in his last two series for a career average of 32.63, which Carey would kill for right now in an Ashes where he is fresh from a golden duck averaging 15.

Alex Carey has struggled with the bat since his debut for Australia. Picture: Getty Images

That’s not to say Carey isn’t up to the job – he is four matches into his debut series in the most pressurised environment of them all the Ashes – but it illustrates Paine was much more than just a figurehead and was in fact a world class keeper who more than paid his way in the team in all departments.

Paine had a poor Sydney Test himself last year – it can happen to anyone – but for the vast majority of his 35 Tests, the Tasmanian was as technically clean behind the stumps as any keeper of the modern era.

Spin bowlers are among the best judges of keepers because they’ve got so much to lose, and Nathan Lyon was always a massive fan of Paine’s slickness, which he said could be identified by the sweet sound of the ball hitting the gloves.

As well as concerns over his mental health, Paine’s decision to step away from the summer was also born out of not wanting to be a distraction for the Australian team, and again the fallen star has selflessly not wanted to be a focus in the week of the Hobart Test when Australia is shooting for 4-0.

Tim Paine wished not to be a distraction for the team in Hobart. Picture: Getty Images

A post from wife Bonnie recently suggested they may not have been following the Ashes closely as she posted photos of the family away.

“There’s something special about disconnecting from the world and being present in the moment, I’m so blessed,’” she wrote.

Former Australian wicketkeeper and fellow South Australian Wayne Phillips backed Carey to overcome his technical glitches.

“His best is absolutely good enough, it’s just those little errors that we’ve seen that have been exposed,” Phillips said on Radio 5AA.

“It’s a tiny little technical issue that needs to be addressed. It’s not difficult at all, just a little half step to get in position. When you’ve got two going in between him and first slip something needs to be done but … I know Alex and he’ll work on it as hard as any man has.”

Originally published as Ashes 2021/22: Tim Paine’s brother Nick slams Cricket Australia after fifth Test in Hobart