Unhappy ending
PAINE REVELATION WITH BAT, GLOVES
WICKETKEEPER Tim Paine looks certain to win selection for March’s fourTest series in South Africa after impressing with his form and maturity.
The decision to pluck Paine, 32, from outside the Sheffield Shield was unorthodox.
If any opponent other than England was touring, a younger man would have been preferred.
Selectors felt Paine was the man to absorb the pressure and meet expectations of reclaiming the Ashes. The future could wait.
Paine, however, has shown he could be set for an extended run in the job.
There is a neatness and presence about Paine that has complemented the Australian team superbly.
Paine made 49 not out yesterday, a key contribution that followed his matchturning half-century at Adelaide Oval.
Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin said before the series that the measuring stick for keepers should not be hundreds but the way they can build partnerships with the tail.
That’s what Paine did yesterday, combining for a 93-run stand with No.8 Pat Cummins.
“You have to be flexible,” Haddin said.
“I don’t think it’s all about how many hundreds you score. I think it’s about how you contribute with the tail and batting that partnership to take you from maybe a good score to a matchwinning one.
“It’s important to understand your role and be able to bat with the tail with different gears.
“I think the one thing with the keeper is they need to be able to change the momentum of the game and contribute with the tail.”