The Ashes 2017-18: Tim Paine's Return Delayed Due to Personal Reasons

Australian wicket-keeper batsman Tim Paine is yet to join the Australian squad in Melbourne due to personal reasons for the fourth Ashes Test scheduled to start on Boxing Day. The 13-man Australian squad for the fourth Magellan Ashes Test assembled in Melbourne on Friday, with Paine being the only exception.

The 33-year-old Paine stayed back in Hobart to support his family after his father-in-law was hospitalised after suffering a stroke.

It is learned that Paine will reach Melbourne in due time and will take the field for the Australian team in the fourth Test, so no replacement has been named as a backup keeper.

However, Australia is sweating on left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc as he continues to recover from a bruised heel.

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The spearhead of Aussie was spotted hobbling at the Melbourne Airport and still on his crutches, but was determined to be fit ahead of the Boxing Day Test. Backup pacer Jackson Bird flew from Hobart to Melbourne today to join Test teammates and is in line to return to the side if Starc is ruled out.

Paine has been one of the success stories of the Australian selectors in the Magellan Ashes series. After a surprise selection for the first Ashes Test, Paine has since cemented his place in the XI and has impressed with both bat and gloves, scoring 130 runs at 43.33 since his return from a seven-year absence from the Test side.

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Former Australian skipper Ricky Pointing stated that Paine could be Australia’s long-term wicket-keeper.

“I don’t think there’s ever been any doubt about his wicketkeeping ability which is the reason why he had never been dropped from the Australian team. “

Pointing further stated that Paine is currently the best wicket-keeper in the country and has shown his quality with the bat over the years.

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“I’ve said for a long time, that he’s clearly the best keeper in the country and over the years we’ve seen glimpses of how good a batsman he actually is. If he can nail some good performances these first few Test matches then that will obviously secure his spot for the rest of this series. Which could then mean he’s Australia’s gloveman for the next few years,” Pointing signed off after lauding his fellow Tasmanian.