BARMY ARMY’S BOUND TO BRING THE PAINE
THE bombshell news that star England allrounder Ben Stokes will play in the Ashes has ignited the pre-series war of words, and Aussie captain Tim Paine is in the crosshairs.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan suggested Paine had questioned the English players’ commitment when they were trying to nut out quarantine arrangements and the tourists “weren’t pleased”.
The Australian skipper said the Ashes would go ahead “whether Joe comes or not”, referencing England captain Joe Root.
Long-time Ashes antagonist and former keeper Matt Prior said Paine had put a “target on his back” with the comments.
“The Barmy Army has already pointed out that Joe Root has almost scored more runs this year than Tim has in his entire career, and those are the things that nobody would have even looked at if Tim Paine doesn’t say the things that he does,” Prior said.
“The Ashes are unique and everyone gets a bit carried away and it can all get a bit ridiculous. It always has and we know how it works. For one captain to show a fair bit of disdain and disrespect to another captain is not what anyone wants to see.”
Vaughan also weighed in, saying of Stokes: “I wonder whether his mind may have been made up by the comments Tim Paine made when there was still doubt over Root and England travelling . . . Some of the England boys were not best pleased.”