Stumped for answers

Tassie’s No.2 keeper gets Ashes spot

CRICKET: National selector Trevor Hohns has claimed that Tim Paine has been the best wicket-keeper in the country for some years, begging the question why Tasmania had virtually banished him from wearing the gloves for the past two seasons.

Hohns told a press conference in Brisbane yesterday he was disappointed with the standard of competition from young batsmen around the country, with Shaun Marsh getting another chance aged 34.

The one exception has been debutant opener Cameron Bancroft, and Hohns called on players around the country to follow the Western Australian’s lead, with mediocre performances no longer tolerated.

Paine is one of the biggest bolters in Test history having not kept in a single game for Tasmania this year, behind Matthew Wade.

Hohns added another twist to the mystery behind Paine’s enigmatic career, admitting he has no explanation for why the 32-year-old was behind 19-year-old Jake Doran as Tasmania’s keeper last season.

“Of course, it was fairly tough. We had a lengthy debate about the wicketkeeping position, of course,” Hohns said.

“With Tim, I think it’s been widely acknowledged for a period of time now (that he’s an outstanding keeper). He’s our Twenty20 keeper and

performs well there. His batting has been pretty good of late and the other side of it … is the unconvincing performances of other contenders.

“Last year, I don’t know what was going on in Tasmania. That’s an issue for Tasmanian cricket.

“With regards to this season, it’s a difficult situation for Tasmania having the incumbent Test wicket-keeper (Wade) playing for them.

“A couple of weeks ago we showed our hand by asking him to play in the CA XI v England in Adelaide and from there Tasmania chose him to play as a batsman at No.4 (against Victoria).”

Former Test bowler Brendon Julian said on Fox Sports News that it was farcical that Paine was not a Sheffield Shield keeper, yet would wear the gloves in a Test match.

He said Australia needed to urgently move him or Wade to another state.

Julian said he would have had no hesitation in picking NSW candidate Peter Nevill, who seemed the frontrunner.

“I would have selected Nevill. I’ve felt he’s done enough, kept really well, he’s the No.1 keeper,” he said.

“I did not see Tim Paine purely because he’s not even keeping for Tasmania. That’s an illogical selection, you’d think.

“It makes selectors look silly and state cricket look silly.”

Asked if Marsh had another opportunity aged 34 because of a dearth of young batting stars, Hohns admitted disappointment that more candidates hadn’t demanded selection.

Hohns admitted it was among the toughest selection processes of his long career.

“I think that’s a fair comment. It took us quite a while, there were several contenders for various positions as everybody knows,” he said.

“We didn’t have anyone jumping out at us demanding selection (except Bancroft).

“It’s hard to put a finger on (the batting inconsistencies). Influence of the short form? I’m not sure.”