Tim Paine returns to cricket in a four-day Tasmanian second XI match
No scars were visible – not the physical one from recent neck surgery nor the weight of the sexting scandal that destroyed his Test captaincy – as Tim Paine made his return to cricket.
No scars were visible – not the physical one from recent neck surgery nor the weight of the sexting scandal that destroyed his Test captaincy – as Tim Paine made his belated return to cricket on Monday.
Paine did his best to put his off-field embarrassment behind him as he lodged an emphatic application to retain his spot behind the stumps for the Ashes series starting in three weeks, taking six catches in a four-day Tasmanian second XI match.
The disgraced former skipper, forced to step down on Friday after revelations he had sent lewd text messages and a “dick pic” to a former Cricket Tasmania receptionist, had been due to play club cricket on Saturday but the match was washed out.
So after months out of the game thanks to Covid and a troublesome neck injury, Monday’s match against South Australia’s second XI was his first chance to show he deserved to keep his place in the Australian team.
Paine looked comfortable behind the stumps, moving freely and smiling broadly, showing no signs he was restricted by injury.
The cricket world is divided on whether he should be selected for the Ashes, with Test great Shane Warne among those who believe he should be overlooked on form and because he hasn’t played since last summer’s final Test.
Whether Paine keeps his spot will rest at least in part with his good mate George Bailey, the chief selector who was leaning against the fence at Hobart’s Lindisfarne Oval during Monday’s game. Bailey, however, has indicated he will leave the selection room if there is any disagreement over Paine’s selection.
“If the panel was not in agreeance with Tim’s position going forward and it was going to come down to a vote, I would step aside and leave that to Tony (Dodemaide) and Justin (Langer) to work through,” Bailey told the Cricket Et Cetera podcast.
“They’re both aware of that.”
Cricket Tasmania high performance manager Simon Insley said Paine was “ready to play cricket” and was desperate to press his Ashes claims. “We all know Tim Paine’s a very determined individual,” he said.
As Paine tried to resurrect his career in the relative calm of a cricket field, the controversy that erupted on Friday continued to rage. It emerged that the 47-year-old woman at the centre of the sexting scandal is set to plead not guilty in a two-day court hearing to accusations of stealing thousands of dollars.
She is accused of stealing cash and memberships from Cricket Tasmania but is expected to fight the claims at Hobart Magistrates Court on January 20-21.
The woman has previously pleaded not guilty to 63 counts of stealing and two counts of dishonestly acquiring a financial advantage.
She appeared on phone link with her lawyer, Greg Barns, in April, and was due for another court mention on May 31, but the original court date set for September was moved because of Covid border restrictions.
It is alleged the woman fraudulently obtained a $705 Cricket Tasmania junior and platinum membership, a $339 Hobart Hurricanes family membership and stole $1942 in cash. The woman, who was a resident of Hobart, is now understood to live interstate.
At the court appearance in April, Chief Magistrate Catherine Geason heard from Mr Barns that the woman was battling health problems and might need surgery.
In June 2019, The Mercury newspaper in Hobart reported that the prosecutor told the court police had decided further investigation was needed in relation to allegations of “$11,000-$13,000 worth of fraudulent … conduct” by the woman at Cricket Tasmania.
The case has been adjourned many times since it first went to court in July 2018 after the woman had repeatedly not appeared. She had provided the court with medical certificates and letters from a psychologist.
Additional reporting: Ben Horne
More Coverage
Crash: Why selectors distanced themselves from Smith’s decision
It’s no surprise Australia put a bomb under the plan to make Steve Smith an opener but it was a surprise who lit the fuse, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
Teen phenom in Test frame as selectors backflip on Smith plan
The picture for Australia’s first Test team is becoming clearer – with chief selector George Bailey revealing plenty after the announcement of the Australia A squad.