Ashes 2017: Tim Paine returns to face England, selectors ignore ‘underperformers’
Australia’s head of selectors has hit out ‘mediocre’ options as he defended some controversial first Test picks | SQUAD
Unconvincing auditions from rival contenders prompted Tim Paine’s shock recall as a wildcard wicketkeeper for the Ashes opener, nine months after he contemplated retirement and seven years after his most recent Test, AAP reports.
Paine has been named as Tasmanian teammate Matthew Wade’s replacement behind the stumps, while Shaun Marsh has been recalled for the eighth time in his career.
Debutant Cameron Bancroft will open in the Gabba clash that starts on Thursday, claiming out-of-form youngster Matthew Renshaw’s place in the side.
Former leg spinner Stuart MacGill led the charge for the outraged, calling the selectors and attacking captain Steve Smith.
If @pmnevill isn't being selected because he doesn't score enough runs then perhaps the Australian captain should remember the day he was first selected for an Ashes series.
— stu macgill (@scgmacgill) November 16, 2017
“If (Peter Nevill) isn’t being selected because he doesn’t score enough runs then perhaps the Australian captain should remember the day he was first selected for an Ashes series,” said MacGill, alluding to Steve Smith’s first match against England in Perth in 2010,” he tweeted.
“Ashes selections … made by morons masquerading as mentors. Times (sic) up gents.
“How about we pick a player who can do the job he’s selected for,” MacGill posted on twitter alongside a picture of Nevill.
“Forget Ferry McFerryface, let’s vote on the idiots that pick the Australian cricket team.”
@scg @CricketAus @CricketNSWBlues how about we pick a player who can do the job he's selected for. Forget Ferry McFerryface, let's vote on the idiots that pick the Australian cricket team. #booselector pic.twitter.com/7kQAcV6wzM
— stu macgill (@scgmacgill) November 16, 2017
Veteran ABC cricket commentator Jim Maxwell also attacked the selectors.
“Selectors unhinged,” Maxwell said.
“Sheffield Shield no longer respected, as far as wkeepers concerned. Nevill allegedly hasn’t scored enough runs this season..Paine hasn’t played regularly for years! [sic]”
Trevor Hohns’ 13-man squad for the first and second Tests against England also features reserve pacemen Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers, while there have been six changes to the incumbent Test XI that defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets.
“It took us quite a while because there were several contenders for several positions,” chairman of selectors Hohns admitted.
“There were a lot of underperformers as well, so we really didn’t have anybody jumping out at us apart from Cameron Bancroft, who put a case forward that was irresistible.
“We want to raise the bar, not (reward) mediocre performances.”
Wade, Peter Nevill and Alex Carey were overlooked in favour of Paine, a 32-year-old who has posted one century from 91 first-class games.
“It was fairly tough. We had a lengthy debate about the wicketkeeping position,” Hohns said.
“He (Paine) is regarded as the best gloveman in the country ... (and another factor was) the unconvincing performance of other wicketkeeping contenders.”
Steve Smith indicated he was happy with the squad, noting it’d be up to the newcomers to perform to ensure selectors pick and stick.
Paine was left out of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield side earlier this season, with Wade behind the stumps for the state.
He instead faced England in a tour game at Adelaide Oval then featured in the most recent Shield round as a batsman.
“His batting has been pretty good of late,” Hohns said.
Paine’s four Tests all came in 2010, the same year he suffered a broken finger. It became a recurring injury that required multiple rounds of surgery and threatened to end his career.
Paine recovered but earlier this year contemplated shifting to Melbourne for a job with Kookaburra, having sensed his professional days were numbered after playing three Shield games in 2016-17.
Marsh beat a handful of contenders for the No. 6 spot.
“Shaun is playing very well at the moment ... he is a versatile player who can slot in anywhere in the batting order,” Hohns said, lamenting the lack of young batsmen beating down the door.
The veteran is a much-maligned figure among Australian cricket fans but his recent form, described as career-best by state coach Justin Langer, includes a Shield knock of 91 against the Test attack in Sydney.
Bancroft carried his bat in that same game, scoring a total of 162 runs in his two digs against NSW. He backed it up with an unbeaten 228 against South Australia, all but demanding selection.
Test selection reveals bombshell
Selectors have confirmed Tim Paine’s Ashes selection bombshell for the Gabba Test, as reported in today’s The Australian.
They have also included Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird in a 13-man squad for the first two Tests, but they are not expected to play in Brisbane.
Paine has been named as Tasmanian teammate Matthew Wade’s replacement behind the stumps, while Shaun Marsh has been recalled for the eighth time in his career.
Paine returns from a seven-year exile, which was due partly to injury and partly to the existence of Brad Haddin.
Debutant Cameron Bancroft will open in the Gabba clash that starts on Thursday, claiming out-of-form youngster Matthew Renshaw’s place in the side.
“Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.
“His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.
“Cameron has been a player of interest to us for some time now, having been unlucky to miss out on the Test tour to Bangladesh that was cancelled in 2015.
“He is a very talented and tough cricketer who shows a good temperament for Test cricket.
“He has thoroughly earned and deserves his call-up following some outstanding performances in the early rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition this season.
“Shaun is playing very well at the moment, having scored consistently in the JLT One-Day Cup and first three rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield competition.
“He is a versatile player who can slot in anywhere in the batting order and will add valuable experience to the batting line-up.”
Hohns said it was a welcome return for Paine.
“Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” he said.
“His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.
“Chadd’s inclusion in the squad is with a view to the Adelaide Test and the conditions that we may see there.
“He swings the ball with good control and knows the conditions well at his home ground. He gives us this bowling option if required.
“Matt Wade has been left out of the squad following some inconsistent performances with the gloves and lack of form with the bat.
“Unfortunately his run of performances did not improve in the early rounds of Sheffield Shield and we have opted to make a change.”
Hohns said national selectors didn’t feel Renshaw was batting well enough at present to earn selection.
“We still view Matthew as a player of immense talent, but he is out of form at the moment and we don’t feel an Ashes Test match is the best place for him to find form,” he said.
“We would like him to go back to first-class cricket and push his name forward with the selection panel through big runs.”
Australia XIII: David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.
A selection stunner
The sight of Peter Nevill dragging his NSW kit through Brisbane airport on his way to Sydney yesterday confirmed the biggest selection shock in many years.
Paine, who struggled to get a place in his state side last year and who has not kept for them this year, will resume his aborted Test career in Brisbane.
Renshaw was dropped after struggling through the pre-season.
It was assumed Nevill was favourite to replace Wade for the series after Alex Carey’s flame flared and then dimmed.
The wise men of the panel chose the team for the first Ashes on Wednesday night, but it was finally revealed today.
The intervening period was agony for players and commentators desperate for a clue as to which way went.
Late last year Paine was considering leaving Tasmania because he was struggling to get into the side. He stayed despite the incumbent Test keeper Wade joining this season but is yet to pull on the gloves for his state.
Wade could have held his own, but few believe he has. Paine appears to have been on the first-class scene forever but at 32 is the same age as Nevill.
He was captain and keeper in the Cricket Australia XI match against England in Adelaide last week, making a half century, and repeated that effort with an undefeated 71 in the second innings of the most recent shield game.
The only way Cameron Bancroft could have been left out of the side to be announced this morning is if he retired from cricket yesterday to take up a lawnmowing franchise.
Key incumbents aside, nobody deserves their place more. A 76no and 86 against the Test attack in the second round of the shield was followed by a massive 228no against South Australia in the round just completed.
Bancroft scored a double century in the last round of the County season as well.
The selectors said “make runs and you will get picked”. He did and he will be or the selection panel will be dragged before the People’s Selection Committee and forced to answer some difficult questions.
The Big Three at the top of the order — Dave Warner, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja — and the bowling attack have made for seven easy choices.
Ignored and insulted by his exclusion from all Tests Asian — excluding one chance in Bangladesh — Khawaja has done the right thing at the start of a new season.
He finished the one-day domestic season with scores of 85, 81, 138 and 41, then turned his mind to the Shield where he has scores of 40, 122, 27, 28no, 78no and 52. Khawaja has an average of 64 at home, well ahead of his career average of 46, and has scored four of his five centuries in his adopted country.
Opener Warner averages almost 60 at home and 48 across his career. He has scored 14 of his 20 Test centuries on these shores and is one of the most dangerous openers in world cricket.
The vice-captain has a fire in his eyes about taking on the English. He did not enjoy losing to them last time.
Captain Steve Smith is the most ungainly elegant batsman in world cricket and arguably the best going around. Indeed, he is one of the best the country has produced.
Like Warner he has 20 career centuries, but he is ticking along at an average of almost 60. Only five people in cricket retired with better numbers. He showed his passion for the big series with his approach in India earlier this year.
The person who should follow Smith in the batting order, Peter Handscomb, has the second-highest average in the side.
The Victorian, who forced himself on to the team halfway through last season, is averaging 53.07 in Tests and while his early summer form has been there and abouts, he should hold his place.
The selectors declared the No 6 and No 7 spots were up for grabs. If you put Bancroft up beside Warner as opener, the No 6 spot could go to Shaun Marsh.
The 34-year-old has been in and out of the side since and even lost his contract this year, but selectors made it clear that Shield form would be rewarded. Marsh lit up the domestic one-day competition with three 50s and a century. He played well against the NSW attack at Hurstville last week, scoring 91, and scored his third half century of the Shield season in the match which finished yesterday.
Hilton Cartwright was another favourite for No 6. He averages over 50 with the bat and provides a modest touch with the ball.
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