Uni juniors’ cheers for a homegrown hero

THE kids at University Cricket Club were excited to mingle with local hero Tim Paine early in the season, so imagine how they felt when their clubmate was named Australian Test captain.

Paine, 33, cut his teeth at University and everyone at the club has nothing but praise for their favourite Lion.

Uni’s awards night could not have been timed any better than last night as the club used it as a double celebration after Paine’s rise to the top of Australian cricket.

Paine’s former manager and long-time University president Paul McNamara was not surprised by his success.

“I’ve been at Uni for 30 years so I saw him grow up at the club from a 12-year-old kid,” Mr McNamara said.

“As a young person you could tell straight away he was different to his peers and showed the type of character that leaned toward being a leader.

“It was easy to see he was destined for higher honours.”

Paine made his Test debut in 2010, as a replacement for the injured Brad Haddin.

Also in the side were Ricky Ponting and Ben Hilfenhaus — the first time three Tasmanians had played in the same Australian Test team.

But a serious finger injury, which required seven operations, cruelled his chances of cementing a longterm spot in the team.

It was not until he was chosen as a bolter for the 20172018 Ashes series that Paine re-entered the Test picture.

“When he injured his finger he was not far away from cementing his role as Australia’s wicketkeeper for many years and the discussion at that stage was did he look like a potential leader of the future,” McNamara said.

“So I’m excited for him ... he’s the right man, at the right time.”