Coach says Tim Paine was deliberately overlooked for Tigers Sheffield Shield match

Tasmanian Tigers interim head coach has revealed why Australian Test captain Tim Paine was given a “soft” comeback to cricket.

TENACIOUS Tiger Beau Webster has been sidelined by injury for Tasmania’s clash with Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield match at Blundstone Arena starting on Sunday while Test skipper Tim Paine was deemed better off making his comeback from surgery in grade cricket than a first class match.

Tasmanian Tigers interim head coach, Ali De Winter, said Paine did not come into calculations for a place in the Shield team, but that he was intentionally given an easy return to cricket after surgery on a bulging disc in his neck two months ago.

Australia cricket team captain Tim Paine gestures at a press conference to discuss his preparation to defend the Ashes against England this summer, at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane on June 14, 2021. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP)

“He’d be coming off no cricket, if he played a Sheffield Shield game, and we’ve got players who are ready and have had a preparation befitting of playing Sheffield Shield cricket,” De Winter said.

Cricket. CTPL cricket grand final University V North Hobart. Day 2. Tim Paine batting for University. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“It was always part of the plan with Cricket Australia that we would have him come through grade cricket and also the Second XI game against South Australia next week.”

Paine will play for University in its CTPL match against South Hobart-Sandy Bay on Saturday.

Webster’s place in the 12-man squad was taken by paceman Sam Rainbird.

“Beau’s got a side strain so there is a change to the squad,” De Winter said.

Day three of the Queensland Bulls and Tasmania Tigers Sheffield Shield clash at Townsville's Riverway. Tigers Beau Webster. Picture: Evan Morgan

Pace spearhead Jackson Bird is still on the mend from his heel injury and unlikely to wear white until the New Year.

“He’s still battling away with his Achilles injury so he won’t play any cricket for the Tigers prior to the Big Bash,” De Winter said.

“We hope he can work through the Big Bash period to make sure he’s right for the back end of the summer.

“I’m confident he will be. He had a good preseason, and just that hiccup right at the start of the summer.

“We are hoping he can work through all of those challenges so we can get him, and Matthew Wade and Nathan Ellis back into the group and push for finals cricket.”