No more Mr ‘Nice Garry’
TIM Paine may have grown up in the backyard alongside Matt Wade but he is unlikely to deliver fans a cover version of his greatest hit.
With the “Nice Garry” catch cry, Wade turned Nathan Lyon into a cult hero last summer, but it seems the Australian off-spinner has his work cut out getting his new wicketkeeper to carry on the tradition at the Gabba.
Lyon has ordered Paine to his room for extra voice training ahead of Thursday’s Ashes start, but Wade’s 32-year-old replacement behind the stump mic is worried it doesn’t sound quite right.
“He’s trying to (make me). He’s got some deal on the side I think,” said Paine.
“I don’t think I will (give a rendition). It doesn’t come naturally to me, I tried it yesterday.”
This might come as news to Lyon, who has grown used to strangers young and old chanting “Nice Garry” on the street.
In the form of his life and with no one calling for four quicks at the Gabba, Lyon (nicknamed Garry after AFL great Garry Lyon) is trying to put Paine through his paces.
“He’s working on it. I know he’s been in his room working on it,” said Lyon.
The behind the scenes story of Paine’s usurping of Wade as Test keeper is extraordinary. The pair were childhood friends.
“My brother still can’t believe he hasn’t been given the call from Cricket Australia as a wicketkeeping coach,” Paine said.
“All he had was a tennis ball and a tennis racquet and he’s produced two Test keepers.”