Tim Paine's shock recall ahead of the Ashes reeks of an aimless selection policy

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  • Paine last played a Test for Australia seven years ago.

    When news reports broke out on Thursday that the Australian selectors were set to snub Peter Nevill and give a shock comeback to Tim Paine for the first Ashes Test, there was a sense of disbelief among the cricketing fraternity.

    Those rumours were all but confirmed on Friday when the squad was officially announced at Brisbane. Along with Paine’s surprising selection came a recall for veteran Shaun Marsh while Matt Renshaw was dropped for in-form Cameron Bancroft.

    While a call-up out of the blue for the 34-year-old Marsh has become standard for Cricket Australia in the past few years, Paine’s inclusion in the Ashes squad smacks of an aimless selection policy.

    Most had anticipated incumbent wicket-keeper Mathew Wade to make way for Nevill, with the former’s glove-work the subject of constant criticisms.

    That Wade was the preferred wicket-keeper for state side Tasmania ahead of Paine makes the latter’s selection all the more damning.

    Paine last donned the ‘Baggy Greens’ of Australia in 2010, more than seven years ago, while was deputising for Brad Haddin on the tour of India. Since then the 32-year-old has not scored a first-class century.

    Nevill's recent upturn with the bat has been ignored.

    Nevill’s recent upturn with the bat has been ignored.

    In fact, the Tasmanian’s one and only first-class century in his career so far came over 11 years ago. Since then, Darren Lehman has scored a first-class ton, retired from the cricket, transitioned into a coaching role and has led Australia to a World Cup win and a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

    Nevill, who remains perhaps the most assured with his glove-work behind the stumps amongst the three names mentioned, has been sidelined due to the lack of numbers he has put up with the bat in hand.

    Not picked in the Test squad since the home series against South Africa in 2016, the selectors had indicated that he would be the preferred option come the Ashes.

    The 32-year-old has done decently with the bat in the Sheffield Shield with an average approaching 40 and seemed a shoe-in for the wicket-keeper’s spot. However, a single knock of an unbeaten 71 by Paine for a Cricket Australia against England in a warm-up game has seemed to trump all of Nevill’s achievements over the year.

    Matt Renshaw, whose Test career started so brightly for Australia, has been axed to make way for Bancroft. A poor showing during the tour of Bangladesh along with some recent struggles in the Sheffield Shield means that the Australian selectors have decided to abandon the Renshaw project for the new kid on the block.

    Still only 21, Renshaw could have well kept his spot in the side along with Bancroft but a recall to Marsh banished all those hopes. To sideline a young talent like the Queensland batsman so soon once again reeks of a disjointed selection policy.

    Matt Renshaw has been discarded after a promising introduction.

    Matt Renshaw has been discarded after a promising introduction.

    There has been no shortage of eye-popping selection calls from the Aussies in recent times but the latest shocker takes the cake in terms of baffling calls. While some seniors like Marsh are afforded chance after chance despite poor returns, other likes Ed Cowan have completely been discarded.

    A shift in policy towards giving youth a chance has been trumpeted over the past year but the omission of Renshaw ahead of an Ashes series has raised doubts over the sincerity of the selectors.

    Whether the bold call to reinstate Paine works remains to be seen, but for now it does look like the Australian selectors have shot themselves in the foot.

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