Surprised Tim Paine can’t wait to don the gloves for Australia

Tim Paine is surprised and excited with his selection in the Ashes squad of Australia for the first two Test matches. His selection has raised a lot of eyebrows considering that he never kept gloves in the ongoing Sheffield Shield season for Tasmania. Though he was kept in the thick of things as he played in the shortest format during the India tour and also featured in the warm-up game for Cricket Australia XI against England.

The 32-year-old last played for his country in whites in October 2010 against India and was since out of the national reckoning. He made his comeback in the T20 side though earlier this year but never thought of making it to the Test squad. Peter Nevill was running ahead in the race based on the performances in the domestic cricket and Wade was never going to be picked following his poor form with the bat in Bangladesh and India.

I thought my Test career was over

Tim Paine honestly admitted of being surprised over his return to the red-ball cricket and also revealed that he had thought that his Test career was over. “I thought it was pretty close if I’m honest,” he told reporters of his career in whites. He also revealed that he was preparing himself for more cricket with the white ball in the near future.

“I’ve been working very, very hard on my cricket, particularly in the last 10 or 12 months, probably more towards white-ball cricket. I still thought I could play a fair bit of international cricket with the white ball. To be back in the mix at the end of last year, obviously I did a few things right. To have this opportunity is amazing. It’s mine to do what I can with it,” he added. Though he was shocked, Paine was excited to be given another shot at Test cricket and feels he is ready to play.

“A little bit surprised, but very grateful and excited by the opportunity I’ve been given in the next few weeks. I feel I’m ready and can’t wait to get up there and make the most of it. I was in the last Twenty20 side for Australia so it’s not as if I haven’t been wicketkeeping. I keep every day of my life. I’m as ready as I’ve ever been with the gloves and I’m rapt to have the opportunity and I plan on making the most of it,” Paine happily concluded.