Aus recall keeper Paine, drop Renshaw

Australia have recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the first time in seven years in a selection bombshell while dropping opening batsman Matt Renshaw in a surprising Ashes squad for the series against England.

The 32-yearold Paine, who played the last of his four Tests in October 2010, has been included in a 13-man squad for the opening two Tests, replacing the out-of-form Matthew Wade and denying Peter Nevill a spot. In peculiar circumstances, Paine has not been considered the premier wicketkeeper for his state Tasmania, with Wade keeping in the domestic Sheffield Shield.

Paine comes into Steve Smith’s side after scoring a halfcentury against England and keeping for the Cricket Australia XI in the tour match in Adelaide.

“Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” said selector Trevor Hohns.

“His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.”

DEMANDING SELECTION Uncapped Western Australian Cameron Bancroft replaces 10-Test Renshaw as David Warner’s opening partner after scoring a mountain of Shield runs in the leadup to the first Test in Brisbane starting next Thursday.

Renshaw has been in poor

form for Queensland but the 21-year-old’s omission is certain to be polarising given his solid performances in the last home summer. Bancroft scored an unbeaten 228 against South Australia this week and was unlucky to miss out on a Test debut two years ago when the 2015 tour to Bangladesh was cancelled over

security concerns.

“We didn’t really have anyone jumping out demanding selection except for Cameron Bancroft,” Hohns told reporters in Brisbane on Friday, describing the squad as one of the most difficult his panel had ever picked.

Selectors also sprung a surprise by recalling batsman

Shaun Marsh while leaving out incumbent number six Glenn Maxwell.

Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Chadd Sayers,

Mitchell Starc.