COVER STORY
From major achievements in the sport, tourism and arts worlds to poignant stories of survival and legislative reform, 2017 has been a year to remember
We take a look at the biggest and best moments of 2017 in sport, politics, the arts, tourism and more
RISING FROM THE ASHES
Tasmanian cricketer Tim Paine hadn’t played a Test in seven years after badly breaking his finger then struggling for form. The 33-year-old wasn’t even wicketkeeping for his state when picked as the national gloveman for the first Test of this summer’s Ashes series.
“Paine’s selection was a bolt from the blue, probably the biggest Ashes bolter since another Tasmanian, Ricky Ponting’s uncle Greg Campbell, was picked for the 1989 tour,” says Mercury sports editor Brett Stubbs.
“No one – not even Paine himself – saw it coming, but it has been an inspired selection.
“He has been clean and efficient behind the stumps, setting a high standard in the field, and more than a solid contributor with the bat. His half-century in the first innings of the second Test was a game changer and set Australia on path to a 2-0 lead.”
Australia’s victory earlier this week in the third Ashes Test, in Perth, was emphatic. “It’s been a bit surreal to be honest,” Paine tells TasWeekend. “I hadn’t planned my summer around playing for Australia in the Ashes.”
Paine attributes his success to being “older and wiser” and in good health. “The first time around [playing Tests for Australia], seven years ago, I was a fair bit younger and inexperienced. Now I’m taking time to actually sit back and enjoy it,” he says.
“My [finger injury] is probably behind me now. I’ve had a lot of trouble with it over the past five or six years, but it’s pulled up really well.”
Paine, who lives at Sandy Bay with his wife Bonnie and sixmonth-old daughter Milla, says his view of cricket has changed.
“I still want to do everything as well as I can, but I have other things in my life now that are as important, if not more important, than cricket. I’m a lot more relaxed as a person and just enjoying cricket for what it is,” he says.
For now, he’s taking one day at a time, “and enjoying the ride, because at my age you can be gone pretty quickly ... All in all, it’s been the best year I’ve had.”