A fine wicketkeeper and reliable lower middle order batsman, the Australia Test captain has enjoyed a career renaissance of late
Born: December 8, 1984
Role: Right-hand bat, wicketkeeper
Having nearly left the game in 2017 to take up a job at cricket equipment manufacturer Kookaburra, Tim Paine has not looked back since earning a shock international recall for the 2017-18 Ashes series.
Earmarked as the long-term replacement for Brad Haddin back in 2009, Paine’s chances of ever fully replacing Haddin were severely dented when a Dirk Nannes delivery broke his right index finger in a 2010 T20 game.
The injury required multiple surgeries over the course of Paine’s career and very nearly caused the end of it altogether.
His spells out because of injury meant that both Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill replaced Paine in the pecking order and he spent nearly six years away from the Australia side before a T20I recall in 2017.
Paine has only got one first-class century to his name since making his debut in 2005 but he is now arguably the first name on the teamsheet in Test cricket since replacing Steve Smith as captain in the aftermath of the Newlands scandal.