Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Ashes will take place on schedule, insists Paine
AUSTRALIA captain Tim Paine is bullish about the Ashes going ahead this winter – even if England are not at full strength because of some players’ concerns about the coronavirus restrictions they will face.
Paine’s England counterpart Joe Root earlier this week refused to fully commit to the marquee tour until receiving clarity about all the entry requirements and quarantine and bubble conditions he and his side will face Down Under.
Jos Buttler admitted he would not countenance travelling if his family were unable to join him, but Paine insisted the five-Test series, starting in ten weeks’ time, will proceed as planned, irrespective of who opts in or out.
“Well, the Ashes are going ahead – the first Test is on December 8 whether Joe’s here or not,” Paine said to Australian radio station SEN Hobart. “No one is forcing any England player to come. That is the beauty of the world we live in, you have a choice – if you don’t want to come, don’t come.”
England & Wales Cricket Board chair Ian Watmore is prepared for the issue to rumble on, telling the Daily Mail earlier this week: “There is no simple date it must be decided by, apart from when that plane goes to Australia.”
Paine added: “They all want to come, there’s no doubt about it.
They’re trying to get themselves the best possible conditions they can, but at the end of the day, we all are.
“It will be worked out as we’ve said many times above us, and then they’ll make a decision whether or not they’ll get on that plane.
“There will be a squad of England players coming here for the first Test on December 8.”
Former England off-spinner Gareth Batty has been appointed full-time assistant coach at Surrey after he announced last week that he was bringing the curtain down on a playing career that lasted nearly a quarter of a century.
Batty, who represented England in nine Tests, ten one-day internationals and one Twenty20, will work with director of cricket Alec Stewart, head coach Vikram Solanki and fellow assistant Richard Johnson at the Oval.
The 43-year-old made his firstclass debut for Yorkshire in 1997 before moving to Surrey a year later and in his two stints with the London county he has played 377 matches and taken 534 wickets in all formats.
Batty said: “It’s been a privilege to have played the professional game for more than 20 years. I never took a moment of it for granted and I know how fortunate I am to have represented the teams I have. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that has been involved.”