Five playing for keeps at Tasmania

How many wicketkeepers is too many? Well, if you're Tasmania, the answer is apparently more than five.

While today's announcement that Tom Triffitt had been handed a one-year deal with his home state is a feel-good story of a troubled youth getting his career back on track, the addition of a fifth high-quality gloveman raises questions about the balance of the Tasmania squad.

Quick Single: Triffitt earns second shot with Tasmania

Triffitt joins former Test wicketkeeper Tim Paine and Australia's T20 gloveman Ben Dunk at Tasmania, along with the state's star recruit, the highly-rated 18-year-old Jake Doran from New South Wales. When you add rookie-listed Queenslander Ben McDermott into the mix, it adds up to an abundance of high-quality gloveman.

Paine, at age 30, may be the incumbent, but is no certainty to take the gloves next season, and coach Dan Marsh had no hesitation dropping him in December after a string of low scores. 

In eight matches last summer, Paine hit 232 runs at 17.84, a drop from a career first-class average of 30.17. Dunk scored 331 at 25.46 from seven matches, including the two he played ahead of Paine as first-choice wicketkeeper. 

Tasmania chairman of selectors Michael Farrell said he believed he had assembled "a really well balanced squad" but conceded everybody – including ex-Test players George Bailey and Alex Doolan – were under pressure to keep their spots, especially Paine and Dunk.

"It's no secret we didn't get the output we wanted from our wicketkeeper-batters this year," Farrell said today.

"(Paine's) output of runs was nowhere near what he would have liked or what we wanted, but his glovework was exceptional. 

"He's got a lot of work ahead of him to keep improving his cricket. At the moment Tim is the incumbent, but there is a lot of (pre-season) cricket to come in September. 

"We've got five 'keepers, but Tom is ready to play first-class cricket and Matador Cup cricket now. It's the genuine competition within the squad we need."

The assertion that 24-year-old Triffitt is ready to play "now" gives rise to the suggestion the may play as a specialist batsmen, as Dunk did in five Shield matches last summer.

However, Farrell was reluctant to put Tasmania down that path, claiming it was "unlikely" the keeper-batsmen could all play together in Tasmania's line-up.

"Unlikely, but possible," was Farrell's response to the suggestion.

"They are all extremely good batsmen (and) we know all those players can field as well as keep wicket. 

"Dunk fielded extremely well in the gully, Tom kept and fielded for (club side) University and Jake Doran is an outstanding fieldsman, so it is possible the four of them could be in the one team."

The new recruits have admitted displacing Paine will be no easy task, but Triffitt acknowledged competition to take the gloves will be intense.

Asked what role he expects to play at the Tigers, Triffitt left little doubt about his intentions.

"Primarily with the gloves," was his quick response. "But I think there's probably a role for me with the bat in the shorter term, in the shorter forms of cricket. 

"We'll have to wait and see but the bat and gloves would be preferred.

"I think (the competition for spots) is going to be good for him (Paine) and I and the other 'keepers in the squad.

"It's going to be a competitive environment over the pre-season but I think it will hold us and Tassie cricket in good stead." 

Before Tasmania signed McDermott and Triffitt, Doran told cricket.com.au that he was keen to continue working on his 'keeping when he moves to the Apple Isle later this year.

"We haven't spoken about that at Tassie yet, but I'd say I'd still work on it and still try to develop my keeping as well," Doran said on March 24. 

"With Paine and Dunk there, they know their stuff and to learn off them, I'm still young, I'm only 18 so I've still got a fair bit of time on my hands so I don't have to go rushing into it.

"I feel like I'm a pretty good fielder as well. If I do get that opportunity, it may not be with the gloves, which means my fielding has to be up scratch."

Quick Single: Doran ready for Shield now, says Rogers

It will be a similar story for 20-year-old McDermott, the youngest son of former Australia Test quick Craig, who made his first-class debut in October 2014 with Queensland.

"I'll be hoping to play as a batsman at the moment," McDermott said after signing with Tasmania. "I'll wicketkeep in club cricket but my focus is to score runs and force my way into the team as a batsman."

Quick Single: McDermott signs on to Tassie 

The clear message from Tasmania is that none of their five keepers are entitled to feel safe behind the stumps.

"We're in a position now where we can pick on form, as well as projecting a little bit too," Farrell said, adding that "our starting XI is up for grabs".