Tim Paine impresses in first cricket match since quitting as Australian captain

 Just days after he quit as Australian Test captain, Tim Paine has impressed on his return to cricket as he stakes his claim for the Ashes.

                   

Just days after he quit as Australia’s Test captain, Tim Paine has made a successful return to cricket, playing his first match following a lengthy injury lay-off.

On Friday, Paine stepped down as Australian Test captain after it was revealed he had sent a former Cricket Tasmania employee a “d*** pic” and a series of lewd messages on the eve of the 2017/18 Ashes series.

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Cricket Australia’s integrity unit reportedly investigated the sexually charged messages after Paine was named Test captain in March 2018, but no action was taken because he had not breached the organisation’s code of conduct.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, newly-appointed CA Chair Richard Freudenstein admitted the organisation should have disclosed the sexting scandal earlier.

The wicketkeeper has been out of action for several months due to a bulging disc in his neck, which he had surgery on in September.

After Paine’s grade cricket match was rained out on Saturday, he finally pulled on the gloves again on Monday on Day 1 of a four-day match between Tasmania second XI and South Australia second XI at Lindisfarne Oval in Hobart.

Even though Paine has relinquished the captaincy, Cricket Australia says the 36-year-old remains available for selection for the Ashes, which begin in Brisbane on December 8.

And with national selector George Bailey in attendance, Paine couldn’t have made a better impression behind the stumps for Tasmania in what was a solid audition to be Australia’s first-choice gloveman for the summer.

Showing no signs of rust, Paine took six catches including one standing up to the stumps off spinner Ben Manenti.

Paine looked right at home and moved very well to take several low catches on his left and right hand side with both hands.

South Australia was bowled out for 165, with Tasmania 1/58 at stumps.

Paine is named at No. 6 in Tasmania’s line-up and will likely be required to bat on Tuesday. 

Cricket pundits were impressed with Paine’s performance and it appears increasingly likely he will be named as Australia’s wicketkeeper for the first Test against England at the Gabba.

“I’m certainly no wicketkeeping expert but if you can pouch catch four with both gloves it’s a tick for footwork and balance,” cricket journalist Andrew Wu said.

“Tim Paine behind the stumps is a joy to watch.”