Tim’s over the pain, so it’s time to dig out and dust off that old baggy green

FOR someone contemplating retirement earlier this year after multiple operations on a broken finger, Australia’s surprise Ashes selection Tim Paine is visiting his parents to retrieve the old baggy green cap he thought he may never don again.

The 32- year- old wicketkeeper, who played the last of his four Test matches in October 2010, was included in a 13-man squad for the opening two Tests against England, replacing out- of- form state teammate Matthew Wade and denying Peter Nevill a spot.

“I do have to dust it off,” Paine said at Hobart airport when asked about the whereabouts of the Australia Test cap.

“It’s at mum and dad’s, so I have to go and get it at some stage today and make sure I pack it for tomorrow’s flight.

“Seven years ago I was playing Test and one-day cricket and I always sort of dreamt - it probably was a bit of a dream, to be honest - that I could get back there...

“It’s now back in my hands which is a great thing and I can hopefully have, who knows; it’s my opportunity to make the most of it.”

The Tasmanian keeper broke his right index finger in 2010, underwent multiple surgeries to fix the troublesome injury and pondered quitting before earning a recall to the national side in February for a home Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka.

Paine has been behind Wade as the first-choice glovesman for Tasmania but was included in captain Steve Smith’s side after scoring a half-century against England and keeping for the Cricket Australia XI in the tour match in Adelaide.

Playing as a frontline batsman, he also scored an unbeaten 71 against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this week.

“It’s been a hard road to get back here and I’m extremely proud of the way I’ve gone about things in the last five, six years,” Paine said.

“I feel like I’m probably more ready now than I was when I played (before), certainly more mature. I know my game a bit better. “I’ve been lucky enough to be around an international cricket team before so I know what to expect so I feel like I’m in a good place for it.”

Paine is “absolutely pumped” having been given a second chance in the longest format and cannot wait to walk out at the Gabba when the first Ashes Test starts against England in Brisbane on Thursday.

“I feel I’m ready and can’t wait to get out there and make the most of it,” he said. “I was in the last Twenty20 side for Australia so it’s not as if I haven’t been wicket-keeping.

“I keep every day so I’m ready as I’ve ever been with the gloves and I’m just rapped to have the opportunity and I plan on making the most of it.”

Meanwhile, Australia appear confused by picking Paine for the Ashes squad against England as he is not even the first- choice selection for his state side, retired leg- spinning great Shane Warne said yesterday.

Paine has been behind Wade for Tasmania but was included in Smith’s side, with Australia selection chief Trevor Hohns calling him the best wicketkeeper in the country.

“England at the moment are just going along nicely,” Australian Warne, the second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history, said in Sydney yesterday.

“They’re just doing their business.

“Australia look confused. They’re picking wicket-keepers that aren’t even keeping for their state.

“To me, I think England are in a better situation going into that first Test than what Australia are.”

The series would be closely fought, according to Warne, who took 708 wickets in 145.

“Being at home, you think that Australia have an advantage,” Warne added. “But I think this will be a super close series. It comes down to the bowling mainly. I think Australia’s bowlers are excellent.”

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor congratulated Australia’s selection panel for picking in-form players.

“I think they’ve had Tim Paine higher on the pecking order than a lot of us did, and they’ve made a couple of form selections which I think are bold... and good,” Taylor told Cricket Australia’s website.

● Australia ensured they would retain the Women’s Ashes after a conclusive sixwicket triumph over England in the first Twenty20 international in Sydney on Friday.

Beth Mooney delivered a brilliant match- winning innings of 86 not out to guide the home side to victory with 4.1 overs to spare as they chased down England’s 132/9 at the North Sydney Oval with some comfort.

The victory extended the holders’ lead to an unassailable 8-4 in the seven-match pointsbased series comprising one Test, three one-day and three T20 internationals. – Reuters

Tim Paine