Australian selectors drop Ashes bombshell for Brisbane Test
SELECTION boss Trevor Hohns has defended the shock recalls of batsman Shaun Marsh and wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the First Ashes Test in Brisbane.
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NATIONAL selector Trevor Hohns has claimed that Tim Paine has been the best wicketkeeper in the country for some years, begging the question why Tasmania had virtually banished him for the past two seasons.
Hohns declared at a press conference in Brisbane that he was disappointed with the standard of competition from young batsmen around the country, with Shaun Marsh now getting another chance aged 34.
The one exception has been debutant opener Cameron Bancroft, and Hohns called on players around the country to follow the Western Australian’s lead, with mediocre performances to no longer be tolerated.
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Paine is one of the biggest bolters in Test history having not kept in a single game for Tasmania this year, behind Matthew Wade.
Hohns added another twist to the mystery behind Paine’s enigmatic career, admitting he has no explanation for why the 32-year-old Ashes keeper was behind 19-year-old Jake Doran at Tasmania last season.
“Of course, it was fairly tough, we had a lengthy debate about the wicketkeeping position of course,” said Hohns.
“With Tim, I think it’s been widely acknowledged for a period of time now (that he’s an outstanding keeper). He’s our Twenty20 keeper and performs well there, his batting has been pretty good of late and the other side of it … is the unconvincing performances of other contenders.
“Last year, I don’t know what was going on in Tasmania at that stage. That’s an issue for Tasmanian cricket.
“With regards to this season, it’s a difficult situation for Tasmania having the incumbent Test wicketkeeper (Wade) playing for them.
“A couple of weeks ago we showed our hand by asking him to play in the CA XI v England in Adelaide and from there Tasmania chose him to play as a batsman at No. 4 (against Victoria).”
Former Test star Brendon Julian said on Fox Sports News that it’s farcical that Paine is not a Sheffield Shield keeper, yet will take the gloves for a Test match.
He said Australia needed to urgently move he or Wade on to another State.
Julian said he would have had no hesitation in picking NSW candidate Peter Nevill, who seemed like he was the frontrunner.
“I would have selected Nevill. I’ve felt he’s done enough, kept really well, he’s the No. 1 keeper,” he said.
“I did not see Tim Paine purely because he’s not even keeping for Tasmania. That’s an illogical selection you’d think.
“It makes selectors look silly and state cricket look silly.”
Asked if Shaun Marsh had got another opportunity aged 34 because of a dearth of young batting stars, Hohns admitted disappointment that more candidates hadn’t demanded selection.
Hohns admitted it was among the toughest selection processes of his long career.
“I think that’s a fair comment. It took us quite a while, there were several contenders for various positions as everybody knows,” he said.
“We didn’t have anyone jumping out at us demanding selection (except Bancroft).
“That’s what we’re asking for, we want to raise the bar … we want to make our whole competition and the Australian side a lot, lot stronger.
“It’s hard to put a finger on (the batting inconsistencies). Influence of the short form? I’m not sure. There’s so much cricket being played these days but we need players who can get in there and just score runs.”
Australia Squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
Originally published as Australian selectors drop Ashes bombshell for Brisbane Test
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