Tim Paine is out of the Ashes and unlikely to play Test cricket again

Australia is set to unveil its new captain today, but the man who stood down from the role will miss the upcoming clash with England.

Tim Paine’s Test career looks to be over. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tim Paine is out of the Ashes and is unlikely to play Test cricket again.

The wicketkeeper who stood down as Test captain on last week was due to play a one-day match with Tasmania on Friday, but withdrew this morning.

A new Australian captain was to be announced today after a board meeting on Thursday night. Pat Cummins and Steve Smith were both interviewed for the role, with Cummins set to be named the 47th captain.

Tim Paine is unlikely to play Test cricket again. Picture: Eddie Safarik

His investiture will be cloaked in sadness knowing the man he served as vice-captain finds himself in such a place that he can no longer play.

Paine recently completed a four-day second XI game in an attempt to prove his fitness for the first Test on December 8.

He has been a haunted sight in recent times as he struggles to deal with the personal ramifications of his sexting scandal. The former captain told Cricket Tasmania on Friday morning he would not play and it is understood the Australian team has been notified.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed via a statement that Paine would take time away from the sport to focus on his well-being.

“We recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for Tim and his family and are committed to supporting them,” Hockley said in his statement.

“We respect and understand Tim’s decision to have a break at this time to focus on his and his family’s well-being.

“The National Selection panel will meet in the coming days to discuss the final squad ahead of the first Ashes Test on December 8.”

Confirming that @tdpaine36 is stepping away from cricket for an indefinite mental health break. We are extremely concerned for his and Bonnie’s well-being and will be making no further comment at this time.

— James Henderson (@jahenderson63) November 25, 2021

Paine told News Corp he was struggling last weekend, saying it was a strain on his wife Bonnie.

“I feel terrible, to be honest,” he said.

“Although Bonnie and I have both known about all this for three years, to have it played out like this is really distressing, and upsetting, and I’m really embarrassed. Really embarrassed. I feel sick for Bonnie, and for my family more than anything else.”

Australian Cricketers’ Association chair Greg Dyer and CEO Todd Greenberg both expressed their sympathy and support for Paine in a joint statement.

“The ACA is saddened by the news that Tim Paine has had to take leave of absence from all forms of cricket for the foreseeable future,” the statement said.

“First and foremost, the thoughts of the players and everyone at the ACA are with Tim and Bonnie.

“Family and health are more important than any game of cricket. It takes genuine courage to both recognise the need for help and to ask for it. Tim now needs some time and space and we support his decision.

“Tim made the decision to stand down from the captaincy with the best interests of the game at heart.

“We hope now that Tim’s best interests will also be respected.”

Paine, a father of two, is a broken man since the tawdry details of an sexting exchange were revealed. The incident was investigated by Cricket Australia, who cleared him of any breach of its code of conduct in the incident, which occurred on his return to Test cricket in the 2017 Ashes.

He was due to fly to Brisbane on Saturday to join the squad ahead of a three-day warm-up game.

The 36-year-old played 35 Tests, 31 of them after a recall to the game in that series.

He was appointed captain when Steve Smith was dropped from the position in the wake of the ball tampering scandal a few months later.

Paine’s leadership alongside coach Justin Langer had been lauded for rehabilitated the side’s public reputation.

WHO WILL STEP INTO KEEPING ROLE?

In his recent column for codesports.com.au, Brad Haddin said alex Carey was fractionally in front of Josh Inglis as the back up keeper for Australia in the first Ashes Test is Tim Paine is ruled out.

Here’s Haddin’s breakdown on the strengths and weaknesses of Carey and Inglis:

ALEX CAREY

Glovework: Carey’s had an interesting time over the last 12 months. He has looked a bit down on confidence with the gloves, which might have been the result of being left out of some key white-ball tours for Australia recently. That said, he has benefited from playing the opening Shield rounds of the season for South Australia and has been finding some rhythm behind the stumps.

As a technician, his big challenge in a Test match would come standing up to Lyon late in the match on a wearing wicket. He’s kept to plenty of good spinners, like Rashid Khan in the BBL, but it’s a different ball game late in a Test match.

Batting: He’s been consistent over a decent period of time now. He’s gone up the order and scored runs in Shield cricket for South Australia, which will help, and has played big innings on big stages in the white ball game, including World Cups.

He’s naturally aggressive with the bat and likes to move the game forward when in that middle-order role. His technique stands up, so the final question mark would be around his ability to bat with the tail in different situations in the pressure-cooker of a Test match.

Intangibles: Physically, he will be able to handle the demands of Test cricket. He’s very fit. The challenge will be the mental side of things. He has a lot of nervous energy and that can play out in different ways. His leadership qualities are less verbal and more about the way he prepares. He’s very diligent in his approach to every level of the game.

Rating: If Paine is not physically up to playing at the Gabba, I have Carey fractionally in front of Josh Inglis. But it’s very, very close. I think the fact he’s been the back-up option for a while now should get him the nod, but Inglis has made up a lot of ground in a relatively short space of time.

Alex Carey is in the mix to replace Tim Paine. Picture: Getty Images

JOSH INGLIS

Glovework: I’m impressed with Inglis’ work with the gloves. ‘Keepers coming from the West usually don’t get a lot of exposure to spin, but I would rate him second only to Paine in terms of his work up to the stumps. That’s a huge positive for him, given the importance of Lyon and the role he plays within the Test team.

Inglis is also very powerful and has a good wingspan. He moves well laterally and has a good set of hands. He’s taken some very athletic catches over the last couple of years, and that starts with the power of his lateral movement.

Batting: This is a big strength. He’s a genuine momentum-changer. Inglis puts the pressure straight back onto the opposition and plays spin well, both of which are crucial if he was to bat at No.7 in the Test team. He averaged more than 73 and scored three centuries last Shield season, all briskly, and he has different gears to his batting.

He reads the game well and knows how to bat with the tail.

Intangibles: His youth. At 26, he would bring a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the group. He’s also had the experience of touring with the national team to the T20 World Cup, so he will have a much better idea of the standard required to succeed at international level.

Rating: It’s close but, as stated above, I have Carey fractionally ahead if Paine is not physically ready for the Gabba. Still, I wonder if the selectors might have been sending a signal by picking him over Carey for the T20 World Cup squad. He’s certainly applying a lot of pressure to his older rivals.

Originally published as Tim Paine is out of the Ashes and unlikely to play Test cricket again