Selectors absolutely stumped over wicketkeeper, writes Ben Horne
TIM Paine’s selection as Test wicketkeeper might be stunning, but what’s unbelievable is the bizarre lack of game time he’s been afforded in the lead-up to the defining moment of his career.
Cricket
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FULL SQUAD: Australian selectors drop Ashes bombshell
TIM Paine’s selection as Test wicketkeeper might be stunning, but what’s unbelievable is the bizarre lack of game time he’s been afforded in the lead-up to the defining moment of his career.
There were whispers floating around Australian cricket right from the lead-up to the domestic season that along with Peter Nevill and Alex Carey, 32-year-old Paine was in fact the surprise third keeping option selectors were eyeing off for an Ashes berth.
Intriguing stuff.
However, the even stronger mail was Matthew Wade had his cards marked and was virtually zero chance of retaining his place.
How then have we arrived at the first Ashes Test, with a keeper that hasn’t once donned the gloves for his state this season?
It’s an astonishing set of circumstances that highlights the clear fact Australia could not decide what they wanted as an Ashes wicketkeeper.
Some might ask why Paine wasn’t keeping for Tasmania from the start of the Shield season. Although in many respects it’s understandable that Wade earned that right as the Test incumbent - even if he was on the nose.
But how Paine wasn’t wearing the gloves for either the Tigers at the MCG or the Cricket Australia XI against England in Townsville this week, in the direct lead-up to the Test team naming is truly astonishing.
LISTEN! In a special episode of Cricket Unfiltered we analyse Australia’s controversial Test team for the first Ashes Test.
You can download Cricket Unfiltered from the iTunes store
Paine’s journey to a Test recall must be the most unusual in history.
In the space of a month he’s gone from Australian Twenty20 keeper in India – Tasmanian second XI gloveman in the Futures League – a call-up to play alongside another group of kids in the invitational XI to face England – specialist batsman for Tasmania – Ashes gloveman.
Admittedly it was a nightmare situation for Cricket Australia – having two of the best stumpers in the country at the same State, at a time when the keeping stocks were at a complete crossroads.
But the strategy has been hard to follow.
It’s understood Tasmania were keen for clarity from selectors on who was their preferred man out of Wade and Paine with an eye to the Ashes, but no direction came, and on that basis it was felt Wade deserved the chance to save himself.
A golden opportunity finally presented itself for both men to play last week, when Paine was selected as captain and the only experienced member of the Cricket Australia XI to tackle England in a tour match.
Tour matches of this nature usually mean nothing, but this was different: Paine kept beautifully and posted a classy 52 with the bat against the England attack.
Over the weekend, there was more noise being made about Paine as he was rushed out of CA XI camp and back into the Tassie squad ahead of their clash against Victoria at the MCG.
It was another clear sign that Australian cricket was very interested in Tim Paine – but the twists continued. Instead of taking the gloves off Wade, he was injected as a specialist batsman.
After a duck in the first innings, Paine made a 71 not out that may have clinched his extraordinary call-up to the Test side.
There have been questions asked about whether Tasmania batted on – despite indications from the weather forecast that they should declare – just to give Paine time in the middle.
This may or may not be true, but the Paine/Wade episode and the exclusion of Nevill has done absolutely nothing to silence those who argue the Sheffield Shield has become a farce.
Paine has 91 matches of first-class experience and selectors know what he’s capable of behind the stumps.
However, it beggars belief that he wouldn’t keep at the highest level in the direct lead-up to an Ashes series – especially when there were two games in which he could have done it.
All it says is that selectors were right up until the last minute, absolutely stumped as to what to do about their wicketkeeper.
LISTEN! On our new CRICKET UNFILTERED podcast, Ian Chappell explains his reasons for omitting Steve Waugh from his list of Ashes greats and Robert “Crash” Craddock provides his unique insight into the battle for the urn.