Tim Paine to be named Australia’s wicketkeeper for one-day series

TIM Paine’s extraordinary career resurrection is set to continue on Wednesday when he is named as one-day wicketkeeper, a clear sign the veteran has been earmarked to keep for Australia at next year’s World Cup.

Tim Paine is being earmarked for a World Cup berth.

TIM Paine’s extraordinary career resurrection is set to continue on Wednesday when he is named as one-day wicketkeeper, a clear sign the veteran has been earmarked to keep for Australia at next year’s World Cup.

It’s understood white ball superstar Glenn Maxwell was under significant pressure to hold his 50-over spot when selectors met on Tuesday night, this despite his stellar Shield form, with a squad to take on England in five ODIs to be announced on Wednesday.

Paine’s selection — again disposing of Matthew Wade — is an enormous vote of confidence in the 33-year-old Tasmanian who has been a mature-aged revelation behind the stumps this Ashes summer.

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In the first instance, Australian selectors backed in Paine because they thought he was the man to handle the heat against England in a huge series.

Tim Paine is being earmarked for a World Cup berth.

But his brilliant form and vibrant presence as keeper has ended any notion he could be a short-term fix and suggested he is a centrepiece of Australia’s plans to win a World Cup and Ashes back-to-back on UK soil in 18 months’ time.

Paine’s return to the Test arena has almost made his ODI comeback a no-brainer given his outstanding record in domestic 50-over cricket.

His last ODI was way back in 2011, but Paine has an international hundred to his name against England in Nottingham in 2009 and also kept for Australia at a Champions Trophy in South Africa.

Paine has eight domestic 50-over hundreds behind him, and his record would suggest his batting is best suited to the varied assignments presented in the one-day game.

Australia must now start thinking towards their World Cup defence in 2019, with the key positions to fill — at least one vacancy in the top order at No. 4, and fast bowling depth to cover Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.

Marcus Stoinis has cemented himself as Australia’s first-choice ODI all-rounder, although Mitchell Marsh’s Test comeback will have selectors tempted.

Maxwell was understood to be in trouble to retain his place in the middle-order — although a double century and 96 in Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria could save him.

One of the stars from Australia’s one-day win in 2015 struggled for form in the last ODI series in India late last year, but to leave him out would be hard to fathom given his strong batting form this summer and proven capabilities in short-form cricket.

Maxwell would be hard-pressed to not be in calculations for the 2019 World Cup.

Towering Queensland quick Billy Stanlake is a big chance to return to the one-day set-up after starring in the Big Bash League.

Possible Australian squad: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Marcus Stoinis, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa/Ashton Agar

Originally published as Tim Paine to be named Australia’s wicketkeeper for one-day series