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Melbourne (Reuters): Australia have recalled wicketkeeper Tim Paine for the first time in seven years in a selection bombshell while dropping opening batsman Matt Renshaw in a surprising Ashes squad for the series against England.
The 32-year-old Paine, who played the last of his four tests in October 2010, has been included in a 13-man squad for the opening two tests, replacing the out-of-form Matthew Wade and denying Peter Nevill a spot.
In peculiar circumstances, Paine has not been considered the premier wicketkeeper for his state side Tasmania, with Wade taking the gloves in the domestic Sheffield Shield.
Paine comes into Steve Smith’s side after scoring a half-century against England and keeping for the Cricket Australia XI in the tour match in Adelaide.
“Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” said selector Trevor Hohns.
“His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.”
Pundits were quick to query the decision. “(If) he’s meant to be the best keeper then you’d think at least he’d make the Tasmania one,” said former test bowler Brendon Julian.
“I just don’t get where that’s come from, that’s just a left-field selection.”
‘Demanding selection’
Uncapped Western Australian Cameron Bancroft replaces 10-test Renshaw as David Warner’s opening partner after scoring a mountain of Shield runs in the leadup to the first test in Brisbane starting next Thursday.
Renshaw has been in poor form for Queensland but the 21-year-old’s omission is certain to be polarising given his solid performances in the last home summer.
The Yorkshire-born opener smashed 184 against Pakistan in his last test on home soil at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January.
Bancroft scored an unbeaten 228 against South Australia this week and was unlucky to miss out on a test debut two years ago when the 2015 tour to Bangladesh was cancelled over security concerns.
“We didn’t really have anyone jumping out demanding selection except for Cameron Bancroft,” Hohns told reporters in Brisbane on Friday, describing the squad as one of the most difficult his panel had ever picked. Selectors also sprung a surprise by recalling batsman Shaun Marsh while leaving out incumbent number six Glenn Maxwell. The injury-prone 34-year-old Marsh has been in decent form for Western Australia but averages a modest 36 in tests and has never cemented his place despite plenty of chances since his 2011 debut against Sri Lanka.
Jackson Bird and the uncapped Chadd Sayers have been selected as the back-up bowlers to the formidable pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
With the quick turnaround between the Gabba opener and the second match in Adelaide, the first day-night Ashes test, Sayers could make his debut under lights on his home wicket to give one of the other seamers a rest.
“It’s no secret that Chadd’s inclusion is with a view to the Adelaide test match,” said Hohns. “I’m not suggesting for one moment that he’ll be already included (in the match).” Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wicketkeeper), Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.
Australia ‘confused’ in picking Paine, says Warne
Melbourne (Reuters): Australia appear confused by picking wicketkeeper Tim 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 on Friday.
The 32-year-old Paine, who played the last of his four tests in October 2010, got the nod ahead of out-of-form Matthew Wade and contender Peter Nevill for a spot in a 13-man squad for the opening two tests.
Paine has been behind Wade for Tasmania but was included in Steve 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, told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
”They’re just doing their business.
“Australia look confused. They’re picking wicketkeepers 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 first of the five-test Ashes will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane from Thursday and the series would be closely fought, according to Warne, who took 708 wickets in 145 tests in a career spanning 15 years. ”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.”
Paine scored a half-century against England and kept for the Cricket Australia XI in the tour match in Adelaide. He also scored an unbeaten 71 against Victoria in the Sheffield Shield this week playing as a frontline batsman.
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 selections and good ones,” Taylor told Cricket Australia’s website (cricket.com.au).
“I think they’ve made some tough decisions, bold ones, up front. They’ve said this is the side we believe is the most in-form side to beat England and we’re going to pick it.”
Australia retain women’s Ashes with T20 win over England
AFP: Australia retained the women’s Ashes with a six-wicket win over England in the first Twenty20 international in Sydney on Friday.
A career-best haul of four for 22 from Megan Schutt restricted England to 132 for nine before Beth Mooney’s 86 – the highest score in a T20 in Australia – helped reel in the target with 25 balls to spare.
The two points from the victory clinched the series for Australia with two matches to play.
In the multi-format series, the four points from two ODI wins, two points from the drawn day-night Test and the T20 victory enabled Australia take an unassailable lead and retain the trophy.
The highlight of the Ashes series was Ellyse Perry’s record-breaking 213 not out in the day-night Ashes Test last week.
The series now moves to Canberra for the final two ODIs on Sunday and Tuesday at Manuka Oval.
