Test skipper chance to play for Uni

UNIVERSITY’S mission to put a stop to Lindisfarne’s lightning start to the CTPL season could be aided by the return of Australian captain Tim Paine.

If Paine (pictured) is to play today at Lindisfarne it will be his first game for his home club since becoming Australia’s 46th Test captain last March.

University coach Ben Harrison was confident his side would have the wicketkeeper on the park for the competition’s first two-day game this season. “Tim has not gone away with Tasmania because he needed a rest and wanted to spend some time with his family,” Harrison said. “It’s a very likely he will play for us, it’s about a 95 per cent chance he will take part.”

Paine’s inclusion will not only help University’s chances of overcoming the league’s most in-form team in Lindisfarne, but Harrison also believes it will be a great learning curve for the team’s younger players.

“If we bat, it’s a great opportunity for a 15-year-old like Zac Phair or Jak Gunson, who is a 17-year-old on debut, to bat with him and learn from what he does,” Harrison said.

The Lightning are yet to score less than 240 in an innings this season and its bowlers are coming off an outstanding performance last weekend, bundling New Town out for 27.

The air speed of Aaron Summers and Nathan Ellis, along with the experience of Matt Wilkie and left-armer Tom Briscoe make the Lindisfarne attack one of the best in the competition.

Harrison is pleased with how his own bowlers have started the season and said if they build pressure on the Lindisfarne batters they will be successful. “Jack Freeman has been really good for us so far this year, along with Sam Leon,” he said. “Nikhil Kharwadka has been underrated for us too with the spin option he provides.”

In the round’s other games, North Hobart hosts New Town at the TCA, with the Bucks set to rebound after being bowled out for their lowest ever score last week.

The Greater Northern Raiders have a chance to record their second ever win when they take on a winless Glenorchy at Windsor Park.

It will be an enthralling contest at Queenborough between South Hobart Sandy Bay and Clarence, who between them have won the past three CTPL premierships.