Boxing Day query on Paine

AUSSIE keeper Tim Paine is in doubt for the Boxing Day Test match following a family medical emergency.

Paine’s father-in-law suffered a stroke and the Tasmanian has opted to stay in Hobart rather than join his team mates who arrived in Melbourne yesterday.

A fill-in keeper has not been called up and Paine could yet take his place in the team, and fly in on Christmas Eve.

A final decision on whether he plays is likely to be made today.

“Tim Paine has not travelled with the squad to Melbourne due to personal reasons. An update on his travel plans will be provided in due course,” a statement from the team said yesterday.

Should Paine opt to miss the match, dropped Victorian batsman Peter Handscomb, could get a recall to take the keeper’s place, behind the stumps or purely as a batsman.

Opener Cameron Bancroft, who has kept wicket for Western Australia this summer is another option.

Handscomb is ready to go too, declaring yesterday he had no issues with his batting technique, which was heavily scrutinised in the first two Tests.

Handscomb was under siege in the second innings of the day/night Adelaide Test, from the English quicks and commentators everywhere who said his preference for playing off the back foot would continue to bring him undone on the big stage.

In three innings during the first two Ashes Tests, Handscomb made just 62 runs, and was twice out lbw.

But pointing to the stunning success of Test captain Steve Smith, who is batting in a way no one could coach, Hand- scomb, who has two Test hundreds under his belt this year rejected calls for him to have a technique rethink.

Handscomb opted to stay and train with the squad rather than join Big Bash outfit the Melbourne Stars.

“It’s good to stay around the squad and make sure I’m ready to go if called upon.”