Tim Paine has excelled behind the stumpsWHEN Brad Haddin broke his finger and was forced to fly home to Australia , many names were thrown around as to who could be his replacement. Chris Hartley and Graham Manou just a couple of examples. But the man who the selectors chose was young Tim Paine.
Paine came into the side as a keeper who could bat a bit instead a batsmen who could keep a bit. He has exceeded all expectations in his time in Australian colours, keeping very well behind the stumps and doing well with the bat, scoring 389 runs at 32 which has included 2 50s and a superb century as opener against England at Trent Bridge .
Although not in the same mould as the likes of Haddin and Gilchrist, Tim Paine has been just as good, being used as the rock at the top of the order to see off the opening bowlers and give the rest of the batting line ups a solid platform to continue on from. He has the technique to face the best bowlers in the world and should do very well as a test batsman once Brad Haddin's time is up.
His batting may not be as effective as Haddin, but his keeping certainly is better. Haddin has been criticized for dropping easy catches and missing balls that he should be taking. Paine, although not spotless has been remarkedly tidy and has impressed many experts including David Boon. "He hasn't been overawed at all and his keeping has been exceptional." he said. In a one dayer against England in the Champions Trophy, Paine contributes to 7 dismissals, 5 of those catches behind the wicket and 2 run outs.
Paine will play in the Indian series before happily giving Haddin is place back in the side for the Australian Summer. But what we do know is that he has a bright future and is a certainty to wear the Baggy Green once Haddin retires.
6 comments:
Boonie would obviously route for Tim as he is a Tassie lad.
However, as much as Hads' keeping has been, in all honesty, well below his previous standards he is primarily in the squad due to his batting which really is classy. His Keeping would need to improve as alot of talk would indicate many feel this way. He has stepped into an inconsistency rut and Graham Manou was the bloke who really showed where the Keeping standards should be (in the 4th Test of the Ashes).
Tim showed alot of inexperience in the Champions Trophy, but also showed impressive composure and I really dig his energy and his constant encouragement behind the stumps. This is all experience to cover up the inconsistency and with the India tour I am routing for the bloke to keep going at One Day cricket. He took the catches that needed to be taken and has really slotted in well.
All he needs to do now is build on more of those starts and when he is back with Tassie just prove he is going to be the best.
It's great to have a young Keeper who really is showing true class, in my opinion anyway.
One thing I must add is that Tim is playing as his own man and to his own abilities. Had's seemed to get far too caught up in the whole, "he's no Adam Gilchrist" speculation or trash talk. As a result I think his game has dropped in many ways.
Have to see how the Keeper circle plays out.
Good work Sean!
I started writing you a nice long comment yesterday, but I was at work and was rudely interrupted by a customer so it never got donw.
But, basically, I was agreeing with Ian (which can make me crazy but there it is): Like Tim Paine, nice to see Australia giving more young blood a chance, hope he doesn't suffer from the "he ain't Gilly" disease like Hads.
How's that?
Haha, fine mate.
He isn't Gilly's predecessor and rightly isn't being compared with him. Haddin was compared to him mainly because he's been in his shadow for so long and was knocking down the door which forced him to retire earlier than most people thought.
Nice work by the Blues there mate! Nice clean victory, so Vics practically in semi's so great to see two of our teams get to the final cut!
Sids...you tracing my every move eh!
Good point on Hads being the 'shadow'. The understudy of Gilchrist would always result in comparisons especially due to the fact when Hads was in as a 'specialist ODI batsman' at times with the odd game as Keeper when Gilly rested, since 2001, he batted very aggressively so people saw the potential.
Nice Tim can mould into his now in International colours, but despite everyone stating Hads in secure in his place, I reckon he has a touhg job ahead now.
Well, you know I am your biggest fan Ian :-)
Why thank you! My one and only at this stage.
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