AUSSIE SHOCK AS KEEPER PAINE BACK FOR GABBA
AUSTRALIA sprang a firstTest bombshell last night by recalling wicketkeeper Tim Paine more than seven years after his last Test appearance. Paine, who has not even kept wicket for his state side Tasmania regularly this season, is the biggest surprise in a 13-man squad to take on England at the Gabba on Thursday and Adelaide the following week. Paine, 32, replaces Matthew Wade and is selected ahead of Peter Nevill, who was widely expected to get a recall. There is a place at No 6 for Shaun Marsh ahead of the more exciting Glenn Maxwell. Paine, who played club cricket for Banbury in 2015, faced England last week in a Cricket Australia XI made up of players struggling to make their state sides. He made a half-century against England and then hit 71 for Tasmania to earn a recall after a gap of 78 Tests, a record in Australian cricket. There will be a new face at the top of the order in Cameron Bancroft, who has been scoring prolifically for Western Australia and replaces the out-of-form English-born Matt Renshaw. Australia have picked only four bowlers, putting a major onus on their impressive but injury-prone pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
MARK STONEMAN scored the first English century of the Ashes tour and Alastair Cook made vital runs as the tourists dominated day two against a Cricket Australia XI in Townsville. Stoneman, who hit 111, said: ‘My game’s in good order. It’s going to be tested a hell of a lot more next week, but I’m happy.’ Cricket Australia XI 250, England 337-3 (Stoneman 111, Cook 70).